Eliphaz then again did take the word
And thus accusingly was answering heard.
How can a wise man utter knowledge vain,
As if his breast were with the east wind fill'd?
Why should he not from worthless speech refrain?
And reasoning, which to none can profit yield?
But thou before thy God restrainest prayer,
And castest off the fear that is His due;
Choosing the crafty tongue thyself to clear,
Though thine own mouth doth prove our charges true,
Less do my words condemn thee than thine own;
Yea, thine own lips against thee testify.
Wast thou the first of men, and born alone,
Before the hills arose to meet the sky?
Hath God his secret things to thee reveal'd?
And wisdom dost thou to thyself restrain?
What knowest thou that is from us conceal'd?
What understandest thou, by us unseen?
With us are agèd and grey-headed men,
Than thy sire older far, and thinkest thou,
By whom God's consolations scorn'd have been,
He will to thee his secret counsels show?
How doth thy passion carry thee away?
Against what is it thou dost wink thine eyes?
That thus thy spirit from thy God doth stray—
That thus we hear thee utter words unwise?
Where is the man that can be counted pure?
And who of woman born, hath righteous been?
Behold He vieweth not his saints secure;
The very heavens are in his sight unclean.
Then how shall man, all sin-defil'd, appear,
Who doth like water, drink iniquity?
Now hear me, whilst the truth I shall declare,
And that which I have seen, repeat to thee.
These things have wise men from their fathers heard,
As taught in former times—to whom alone
The earth was given, nor by the stranger shar'd,
Ere yet amongst them were his footsteps known.
Th' oppressor vainly reckoneth up his years;
The wicked travaileth all his days with pain;
A sound of dread is ever in his ears,—
He graspeth life, and seeketh peace in vain.
For him the sword doth wait where'er he goeth;
Whilst prospering, the destroyer doth surprise;—
The evil day is at his side, he knoweth,
Nor from its darkness hopeth he to rise.
Abroad he wandereth in search of bread—
While asking where it is, his heart doth fail;
Anguish and trouble making him afraid,
As a king ready for the fight, prevail.
Against the Almighty he doth stretch his hand,
Hardening himself against his God on high,
As one who would an armed man withstand,
His neck would seize,—his buckler's strength defy.
Because he doth his face with fatness shield,
And compasseth therewith his sides around,—
Houses where no man dwelleth he doth build—
In cities desolate his home is found.
His substance shall not last;—his riches fly;—
On earth is their perfection quickly o'er.
Ready to fall in heaps his dwellings lie;
And darkness resteth on him evermore.
Flames shall his branches wither up and dry;
As his mouth's breath his life shall pass away.
Thus he that is deceiv'd by vanity,
Shall know the same his recompense to pay.
Like as a branch cut off before its time,
Ere its green leaves unfold, his end shall be;
So sheds the vine its grapes before their prime,
So casts its blighted flowers, the olive tree.
For on the hypocrites shall ruin come;
Their congregation desolate shall be;
Fire shall the dwellings of th' unjust consume,
And flames devour the abodes of bribery.
For mischief they conceive, and wickedness;
And treachery their hearts do still prepare;
Their inmost parts deceit alone possess,
And vanity shall be the fruit they bear.