1. Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
2. “A wise person would not answer with empty wordsor fill his stomach with the hot east wind.
3. He would not argue with useless wordsor make speeches that have no value.
4. But you even destroy respect for Godand limit the worship of him.
5. Your sin teaches your mouth what to say;you use words to trick others.
6. It is your own mouth, not mine, that shows you are wicked;your own lips testify against you.
7. “You are not the first man ever born;you are not older than the hills.
8. You did not listen in on God’s secret council.But you limit wisdom to yourself.
9. You don’t know any more than we know.You don’t understand any more than we understand.
10. Old people with gray hair are on our side;they are even older than your father.
11. Is the comfort God gives you not enough for you,even when words are spoken gently to you?
12. Has your heart carried you away from God?Why do your eyes flash with anger?
13. Why do you speak out your anger against God?Why do these words pour out of your mouth?
14. “How can anyone be pure?How can someone born to a woman be good?
15. God places no trust in his holy ones,and even the heavens are not pure in his eyes.
16. How much less pure is one who is terrible and rottenand drinks up evil as if it were water!