15Job 15

The Second Dialogue / Eliphaz

2Empty words, Job! Empty words!Select Job 15:2

3No one who is wise would talk the way you do or defend himself with such meaningless words.Select Job 15:3

4If you had your way, no one would fear God; no one would pray to him.Select Job 15:4

5Your wickedness is evident by what you say; you are trying to hide behind clever words.Select Job 15:5

6There is no need for me to condemn you; you are condemned by every word you speak.Select Job 15:6

7Do you think you were the first person born? Were you there when God made the mountains?Select Job 15:7

8Did you overhear the plans God made? Does human wisdom belong to you alone?Select Job 15:8

9There is nothing you know that we don't know.Select Job 15:9

10We learned our wisdom from gray-haired people— those born before your father.Select Job 15:10

11God offers you comfort; why still reject it? We have spoken for him with calm, even words.Select Job 15:11

12But you are excited and glare at us in anger.Select Job 15:12

13You are angry with God and denounce him.Select Job 15:13

14Can any human being be really pure? Can anyone be right with God?Select Job 15:14

15Why, God does not trust even his angels; even they are not pure in his sight.Select Job 15:15

16And we drink evil as if it were water; yes, we are corrupt; we are worthless.Select Job 15:16

17Now listen, Job, to what I know.Select Job 15:17

18Those who are wise have taught me truths which they learned from their ancestors, and they kept no secrets hidden.Select Job 15:18

19Their land was free from foreigners; there was no one to lead them away from God.Select Job 15:19

20The wicked who oppress others will be in torment as long as they live.Select Job 15:20

21Voices of terror will scream in their ears, and robbers attack when they think they are safe.Select Job 15:21

22They have no hope of escaping from darkness, for somewhere a sword is waiting to kill them,Select Job 15:22

23and vultures are waiting to eat their corpses. They know their future is dark;Select Job 15:23

24disaster, like a powerful king, is waiting to attack them.Select Job 15:24

25That is the fate of those who shake their fists at God and defy the Almighty.Select Job 15:25

27They are proud and rebellious; they stubbornly hold up their shields and rush to fight against God.Select Job 15:27

28They are the ones who captured cities and seized houses whose owners had fled, but war will destroy those cities and houses.Select Job 15:28

29They will not remain rich for long; nothing they own will last. Even their shadows will vanish,Select Job 15:29

30and they will not escape from darkness. They will be like trees whose branches are burned by fire, whose blossoms are blown away by the wind.Select Job 15:30

31If they are foolish enough to trust in evil, then evil will be their reward.Select Job 15:31

32Before their time is up they will wither, wither like a branch and never be green again.Select Job 15:32

33They will be like vines that lose their unripe grapes; like olive trees that drop their blossoms.Select Job 15:33

34There will be no descendants for godless people, and fire will destroy the homes built by bribery.Select Job 15:34

35These are the ones who plan trouble and do evil; their hearts are always full of deceit.Select Job 15:35