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- Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
- "Would a wise man answer with empty notions or fill his belly with the hot east wind?
- Would he argue with useless words, with speeches that have no value?
- But you even undermine piety and hinder devotion to God.
- Your sin prompts your mouth; you adopt the tongue of the crafty.
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- Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,
- "Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge And fill himself with the east wind?
- "Should he argue with useless talk, Or with words which are not profitable?
- "Indeed, you do away with reverence And hinder meditation before God.
- "For your guilt teaches your mouth, And you choose the language of the crafty.
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- Your own mouth condemns you, not mine; your own lips testify against you.
- "Are you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
- Do you listen in on God's council? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
- What do you know that we do not know? What insights do you have that we do not have?
- The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, men even older than your father.
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- "Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; And your own lips testify against you.
- "Were you the first man to be born, Or were you brought forth before the hills?
- "Do you hear the secret counsel of God, And limit wisdom to yourself?
- "What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that we do not?
- "Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, Older than your father.
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- Are God's consolations not enough for you, words spoken gently to you?
- Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,
- so that you vent your rage against God and pour out such words from your mouth?
- "What is man, that he could be pure, or one born of woman, that he could be righteous?
- If God places no trust in his holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,
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- "Are the consolations of God too small for you, Even the word spoken gently with you?
- "Why does your heart carry you away? And why do your eyes flash,
- That you should turn your spirit against God And allow such words to go out of your mouth?
- "What is man, that he should be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
- "Behold, He puts no trust in His holy ones, And the heavens are not pure in His sight;
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- how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks up evil like water!
- "Listen to me and I will explain to you; let me tell you what I have seen,
- what wise men have declared, hiding nothing received from their fathers
- (to whom alone the land was given when no alien passed among them):
- All his days the wicked man suffers torment, the ruthless through all the years stored up for him.
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- How much less one who is detestable and corrupt, Man, who drinks iniquity like water!
- "I will tell you, listen to me; And what I have seen I will also declare;
- What wise men have told, And have not concealed from their fathers,
- To whom alone the land was given, And no alien passed among them.
- "The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, And numbered are the years stored up for the ruthless.
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- Terrifying sounds fill his ears; when all seems well, marauders attack him.
- He despairs of escaping the darkness; he is marked for the sword.
- He wanders about--food for vultures ; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
- Distress and anguish fill him with terror; they overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack,
- because he shakes his fist at God and vaunts himself against the Almighty,
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- "Sounds of terror are in his ears; While at peace the destroyer comes upon him.
- "He does not believe that he will return from darkness, And he is destined for the sword.
- "He wanders about for food, saying, 'Where is it?' He knows that a day of darkness is at hand.
- "Distress and anguish terrify him, They overpower him like a king ready for the attack,
- Because he has stretched out his hand against God And conducts himself arrogantly against the Almighty.
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- defiantly charging against him with a thick, strong shield.
- "Though his face is covered with fat and his waist bulges with flesh,
- he will inhabit ruined towns and houses where no one lives, houses crumbling to rubble.
- He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the land.
- He will not escape the darkness; a flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God's mouth will carry him away.
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- "He rushes headlong at Him With his massive shield.
- "For he has covered his face with his fat And made his thighs heavy with flesh.
- "He has lived in desolate cities, In houses no one would inhabit, Which are destined to become ruins.
- "He will not become rich, nor will his wealth endure; And his grain will not bend down to the ground.
- "He will not escape from darkness; The flame will wither his shoots, And by the breath of His mouth he will go away.
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- Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless, for he will get nothing in return.
- Before his time he will be paid in full, and his branches will not flourish.
- He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.
- For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of those who love bribes.
- They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb fashions deceit."
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- "Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; For emptiness will be his reward.
- "It will be accomplished before his time, And his palm branch will not be green.
- "He will drop off his unripe grape like the vine, And will cast off his flower like the olive tree.
- "For the company of the godless is barren, And fire consumes the tents of the corrupt.
- "They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity, And their mind prepares deception."
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