Job 15

1 Then Eliphaz [a descendant of Esau] the Temanite [from Teman, a duke of Edom] replied [answered, responded, and said]: word study 2 “Does a wise [intelligent, skilled, or crafty] man answer [respond, or give an answer] with empty [vain, or useless] counsel [knowledge, or advice] or fill [to make full, or complete] his belly [the seat of hunger, or emotions] with the hot [burning, or fiery] east [direction, or wind] wind [spirit, or breath]? word study 3 Should he argue [reason, dispute] with useless [unprofitable, not beneficial] words or speeches [talk, utterances] that serve [bring, do] no purpose [good, benefit]? word study 4 But you [also] even undermine [do away with, cast off] the fear [reverence, respect] of God [the Almighty, Divine Power] and hinder [restrain, diminish] meditation [devotion, quiet reflection] before [in the presence of] Him. word study 5 For your iniquity [moral evil, sin] instructs [teaches, guides] your mouth [lips, speech], and you choose [select, prefer] the language [tongue, words] of the crafty [prudent, cunning, deceitful]. word study 6 Your own mouth [lips, the edge of something], not mine [not I, I am not the one], condemns [declares you wicked, testifies against] you; your own lips [language, the words you speak] testify [give witness, respond] against you [show that you should be punished]. word study 7 Were you the first [primary] man [Adam, the first human] ever born [brought into existence, begotten]? Were you brought forth [created, formed] before [in the presence of, prior to] the hills [Gibeat, small elevations]? word study 8 Do you listen in [hear and obey, pay attention to] on the council [secret meeting, intimate conversation] of God [Eloah, the one true God] or limit [diminish, restrain] wisdom [skill, prudence, or good judgment] to yourself [toward yourself, in your own understanding]? word study 9 What [a question of inquiry] do you know [to ascertain by seeing, perceive] that we do not [absence of knowledge]? What [a question of inquiry] do you understand [to separate mentally and know, discern] that is not [indicating absence] clear [evident, apparent] to us [with us, in our presence]? word study 10 Both the gray-haired [with a long life, aged] and the aged [experienced, elderly] are on our side— men [elders, wise ones] much older [greater in days, more advanced in years] than your father [ancestor, patriarch]. word study 11 Are the consolations [comforts, solace] of God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] not enough [too small, insufficient] for you, even words [a gentle word, a soft utterance] spoken gently [softly, in a whisper] to you? word study 12 Why has your [mind, emotions, and will] heart [the feelings, the will, the mind] carried you away [taken control of you, led you astray], and why do your [the windows of your soul, sources of insight] eyes [referring to the physical or spiritual gaze] flash [blink, wink, or gleam with excitement or mockery, as in a playful or scornful manner], word study 13 as you turn [swerve, change direction] your spirit [breath of life, mind and emotions] against [in opposition to, towards] God [the supreme Being, Almighty] and pour [utter, let go out] such words [speech, topics] from your mouth [lips, edge of speech]? word study 14 What [inquiries about human nature] is man [mankind, a human being], that he should be [considered or become] pure [clean, without sin], or one born [brought forth, begotten] of woman [a female, a wife], that he should be [declared or made] righteous [just, upright, in right standing with God]? word study 15 If God [the Supreme Being, Almighty] puts no trust [does not have faith, is not confident] in His holy ones [saints, set apart ones], if even the heavens [the sky, the celestial realm] are not pure [clean, free from defilement] in His eyes [sight, gaze, regard], word study 16 how much less man [abominable, filthy], who is vile [morally corrupt, detestable] and corrupt [turned from what is good], who drinks [consumes, indulges in] injustice [moral evil, unrighteousness] like water [without satisfaction, as a natural part of life]? word study 17 Listen [hear and obey, give attention] to me and I will inform [show and declare, make known] you. I will describe [recount, tell in detail] what I have seen [perceived, had a vision of, prophesied], word study 18 what was declared [told, shared openly] by wise [skilled, intelligent] men [leaders, fathers] and was not [never] concealed [hidden, kept secret] from their fathers [ancestors, heritage], word study 19 to whom alone [exclusively, uniquely] the land [earth, territory] was given [granted, bestowed] when no [not any] foreigner [stranger, non-native] passed [crossed, traveled] among them [in their midst, through their territory]. word study 20 A [morally wrong, guilty of sin] wicked man [the evil one, guilty of crime] writhes [to twist, in pain or fear] in pain [suffering, distress] all his days [every moment, throughout his life]; only a few [limited, short] years [periods of time, seasons] are reserved [hidden, stored up] for the [cruel, oppressive] ruthless [one who inspires fear, tyrant]. word study 21 Sounds [of dread, a fearful voice] of terror [fearful, dreadful] fill his ears [the ability to hear, listen]; in his prosperity [peace, wellness, completeness] the destroyer [one who ruins, devastates] attacks [comes upon, approaches] him. word study 22 He despairs [does not believe, has no hope] of his return [to turn back, to come back] from darkness [the state of misery, spiritual gloom, chaos]; he is marked [waited for, appointed] for the sword [a knife or cutting tool]. word study 23 He wanders about [as a fugitive, in search of bread] as food [sustenance] for vultures [birds of prey]; he knows [is aware, has discernment] the day [a period of time] of darkness [gloom or misery] is at hand [near, ready to be experienced]. word study 24 Distress [trouble, adversity] and anguish [pain, torment] terrify [to startle, cause sudden fear] him, overwhelming [prevailing against, overpowered] him like a king [royal person, ruler] poised [ready, prepared] to attack [engage in battle, fierce fighting]. word study 25 For [because, since] he has stretched out [extended, reached forth] his hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] against [toward, in opposition to] God [the Almighty, divine Ruler] and has vaunted [exalted, proudly lifted] himself [strengthened himself, made himself mighty] against [in defiance of, in challenge to] the Almighty [Shadday, all-powerful One], word study 26 rushing [with reckless abandon] headlong at Him [toward His presence] with a thick [dense, heavily fortified], studded [bossed, reinforced] shield [buckler, protective barrier]. word study 27 Though his face [countenance, presence] is covered [enveloped, shrouded] with fat [richness, abundance] and his waistline [loins, confidence] bulges [is filled, overflows] with flesh [excess fat, obesity], word study 28 he will dwell [live, reside, or stay] in ruined [desolate, abandoned, or cut off] cities [towns, or populated areas], in abandoned [uninhabited, or deserted] houses [homes, or dwelling places] destined [prepared, or ready] to become [turn into, or be reduced to] rubble [heaps, or piles of stones]. word study 29 He will no longer be rich [nor enriched, without wealth]; his wealth [substance, possessions] will not endure [continue, last]. His possessions [goods, riches] will not overspread [stretch, spread out] the land [earth, territory]. word study 30 He will not [under no circumstances] escape from the darkness [misery, spiritual gloom]; the flame [fiery blaze, burning fire] will wither [dry up, cause to perish] his shoots [young branches, tender growth], and the breath [spirit, wind] of God’s [the Almighty, divine] mouth [lips, utterance] will carry him away [remove, take away]. word study 31 Let him not [by no means, under any circumstance] deceive himself with trust in [relying on, having faith in] emptiness [vanity, falsehood] [something empty, useless, or deceitful], for [because, since] emptiness [futility, worthlessness] will be his reward [recompense, compensation]. word study 32 It will be paid [accomplished, fulfilled] in full [completely, totally] before his [appointed, designated] time [day, season], and his branch [leaf, limb] will not [never, under no circumstances] flourish [be fresh, be green, be luxuriant]. word study 33 He will be like a vine stripped [shaken off] of its unripe grapes [sour, immature fruit], like an olive tree [that sheds, casts off] that sheds its blossoms [flowers, blossoming flowers]. word study 34 For [because of this reason] the company [congregation, gathering] of the godless [profane, hypocritical] will be barren [desolate, solitary], and fire [burning, flame] will consume [eat, devour] the tents [tabernacles, homes] of bribery [gifts given to influence, corrupt rewards]. word study 35 They conceive [to become pregnant with ideas, hatch plans] trouble [hard work, misery, or pain] and give birth [beget, bring forth] to evil [wickedness, iniquity, or unrighteousness]; their womb [belly, the seat of emotions] is pregnant [filled, prepared] with deceit [cheating, lying, or trickery].” word study