111 lines
3.0 KiB
Markdown
111 lines
3.0 KiB
Markdown
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# Chapter 15
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1. Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
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2. "Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge,
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And fill himself with the east wind?
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3. Should he reason with unprofitable talk,
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Or by speeches with which he can do no good?
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4. Yes, you cast off fear,
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And restrain prayer before God.
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5. For your iniquity teaches your mouth,
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And you choose the tongue of the crafty.
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6. Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;
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Yes, your own lips testify against you.
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7. "_Are_ you the first man _who_ was born?
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Or were you made before the hills?
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8. Have you heard the counsel of God?
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Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
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9. What do you know that we do not know?
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_What_ do you understand that _is_ not in us?
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10. Both the gray-haired and the aged _are_ among us,
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Much older than your father.
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11. _Are_ the consolations of God too small for you,
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And the word _spoken_ gently with you?
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12. Why does your heart carry you away,
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And what do your eyes wink at,
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13. That you turn your spirit against God,
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And let _such_ words go out of your mouth?
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14. "What _is_ man, that he could be pure?
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And _he who is_ born of a woman, that he could be righteous?
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15. If _God_ puts no trust in His saints,
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And the heavens are not pure in His sight,
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16. How much less man, _who is_ abominable and filthy,
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Who drinks iniquity like water!
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17. "I will tell you, hear me;
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What I have seen I will declare,
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18. What wise men have told,
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Not hiding _anything received_ from their fathers,
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19. To whom alone the land was given,
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And no alien passed among them:
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20. The wicked man writhes with pain all _his_ days,
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And the number of years is hidden from the oppressor.
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21. Dreadful sounds _are_ in his ears;
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In prosperity the destroyer comes upon him.
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22. He does not believe that he will return from darkness,
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For a sword is waiting for him.
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23. He wanders about for bread, _saying,_ 'Where _is it?_'
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He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand.
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24. Trouble and anguish make him afraid;
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They overpower him, like a king ready for battle.
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25. For he stretches out his hand against God,
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And acts defiantly against the Almighty,
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26. Running stubbornly against Him
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With his strong, embossed shield.
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27. "Though he has covered his face with his fatness,
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And made _his_ waist heavy with fat,
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28. He dwells in desolate cities,
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In houses which no one inhabits,
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Which are destined to become ruins.
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29. He will not be rich,
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Nor will his wealth continue,
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Nor will his possessions overspread the earth.
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30. He will not depart from darkness;
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The flame will dry out his branches,
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And by the breath of His mouth he will go away.
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31. Let him not trust in futile _things,_ deceiving himself,
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For futility will be his reward.
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32. It will be accomplished before his time,
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And his branch will not be green.
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33. He will shake off his unripe grape like a vine,
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And cast off his blossom like an olive tree.
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34. For the company of hypocrites _will be_ barren,
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And fire will consume the tents of bribery.
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35. They conceive trouble and bring forth futility;
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Their womb prepares deceit."
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