1 Then ^aEliphaz the Temanite answered and said: ‡

2 “Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge,
And fill¹ himself with the east wind? ‡

3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk,
Or by speeches with which he can do no good?

4 Yes, you cast off fear,
And restrain¹ prayer before God. ‡

5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth,
And you choose the tongue of the crafty.

6 ^aYour own mouth condemns you, and not I;
Yes, your own lips testify against you. ‡

7 “Are you the first man who was born?
^aOr were you made before the hills? ‡

8 ^aHave you heard the counsel of God?
Do you limit wisdom to yourself? ‡

9 ^aWhat do you know that we do not know?
What do you understand that is not in us? ‡

10 ^aBoth the gray-haired and the aged are among us,
Much older than your father. ‡

11 Are the consolations of God too small for you,
And the word spoken¹ gently with you? ‡

12 Why does your heart carry you away,
And¹ what do your eyes wink at, ‡

13 That you turn your spirit against God,
And let such words go out of your mouth?

14 “What^a is man, that he could be pure?
And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous? ‡

15 ^aIf God puts no trust in His saints,
And the heavens are not pure in His sight, ‡

16 ^aHow much less man, who is abominable and filthy,
^bWho drinks iniquity like water! ‡

17 “I will tell you, hear me;
What I have seen I will declare,

18 What wise men have told,
Not hiding anything received ^afrom their fathers, ‡

19 To whom alone the¹ land was given,
And ^ano alien passed among them: ‡

20 The wicked man writhes with pain all his days,
^aAnd the number of years is hidden from the oppressor. ‡

21 ¹Dreadful sounds are in his ears;
^aIn prosperity the destroyer comes upon him. ‡

22 He does not believe that he will ^areturn from darkness,
For a sword is waiting for him. ‡

23 He ^awanders about for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’
He knows ^bthat a day of darkness is ready at his hand. ‡

24 Trouble and anguish make him afraid;
They overpower him, like a king ready for¹ battle. ‡

25 For he stretches out his hand against God,
And acts defiantly against the Almighty,

26 Running stubbornly against Him
With his strong, embossed shield.

27 “Though^a he has covered his face with his fatness,
And made his waist heavy with fat, ‡

28 He dwells in desolate cities,
In houses which no one inhabits,
Which are destined to become ruins.

29 He will not be rich,
Nor will his wealth ^acontinue,
Nor will his possessions overspread the earth. ‡

30 He will not depart from darkness;
The flame will dry out his branches,
And ^aby the breath of His mouth he will go away. ‡

31 Let him not ^atrust in futile things, deceiving himself,
For futility will be his reward. ‡

32 It will be accomplished ^abefore his time,
And his branch will not be green. ‡

33 He will shake off his unripe grape like a vine,
And cast off his blossom like an olive tree.

34 For the company of hypocrites will be barren,
And fire will consume the tents of bribery.

35 ^aThey conceive trouble and bring forth futility;
Their womb prepares deceit.” ‡