| Chapter 15 |
1 |
And Eliphaz the Themanite, answered, and said: --
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2 |
Will a wise man answer as if he were speaking in the wind, and fill his stomach with burning heat? --
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3 |
Thou reprovest him by words, who is not equal to thee, and thou speakest that which is not good for thee. --
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4 |
As much as is in thee, thou hast made void fear, and hast taken away prayers from before God. --
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5 |
For thy iniquity hath taught thy mouth, and thou imitatest the tongue of blasphemers. --
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6 |
Thy own mouth shall condemn thee, and not I: and thy own lips shall answer thee. --
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7 |
Art thou the first man that was born, or wast thou made before the hills ? --
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8 |
Hast thou heard God's counsel, and shall his wisdom be inferior to thee? --
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9 |
What knowest thou that we are ignorant of? what dost thou understand that we know not? --
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10 |
There are with us also aged and ancient men, much elder than thy fathers. --
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11 |
Is it a great matter that God should comfort thee? but thy wicked words hinder this. --
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12 |
Why doth thy heart elevate thee, and why dost thou stare with thy eyes, as if they were thinking great things ? --
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13 |
Why doth thy spirit swell against God, to utter such words out of thy mouth ? --
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14 |
What is man that he should be without spot, and he that is born of a woman that he should appear just? --
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15 |
Behold among his saints none is unchangeable, and the heavens are not pure in his sight. --
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16 |
How much more is man abominable, and unprofitable, who drinketh iniquity like water? --
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17 |
I will shew thee, hear me : and I mill tell thee what I have seen. --
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18 |
Wise men confess and hide not their fathers. --
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19 |
To whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger hath passed among them. --
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20 |
The wicked man is proud all his days, and the number of the years of his tyranny is uncertain. --
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21 |
The sound of dread is always in his ears: and when there is peace, he always suspecteth treason. --
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22 |
He believeth not that he may return from darkness to light, looking round about for the sword on every side. --
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23 |
When he moveth himself to seek bread, he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand. --
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24 |
Tribulation shall terrify him, and distress shall surround him, as a king that is prepared for the battle. --
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25 |
For he hath stretched out his hand against God, and hath strengthened himself against the Almighty. --
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26 |
He hath run against him with his neck raised up, and is armed with a fat neck. --
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27 |
Fatness hath covered his face, and the fat hangeth down on his sides. --
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28 |
He hath dwelt in desolate cities, and in desert houses that are reduced into heaps. --
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29 |
He shall not be enriched, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he push his root in the earth. --
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30 |
He shall not depart out of darkness: the flame shall dry up his branches, and he shall be taken away by the breath of his own month. --
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31 |
He shall not believe, being vainly deceived by error, that he may be redeemed with any price. --
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32 |
Before his days be full he shall perish: and his hands shall wither away. --
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33 |
He shall be blasted as a vine when its grapes are in the first flower, and as an olive tree that casteth its flower. --
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34 |
For the congregation of the hypocrite is barren, and fire shall devour their tabernacles, who love to take bribes. --
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35 |
He hath conceived sorrow, and hath brought forth iniquity, and his womb prepareth deceits. --
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