Job - Chapter 15

Job 15.1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said, Job 15.2 Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? Job 15.3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good? Job 15.4 Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God. Job 15.5 For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty. Job 15.6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee. Job 15.7 Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills? Job 15.8 Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself? Job 15.9 What knowest thou, that we know not? what understandest thou, which is not in us? Job 15.10 With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father. Job 15.11 Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee? Job 15.12 Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at, Job 15.13 That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth? Job 15.14 What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Job 15.15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. Job 15.16 How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water? Job 15.17 I will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare; Job 15.18 Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it: Job 15.19 Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them. Job 15.20 The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor. Job 15.21 A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him. Job 15.22 He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword. Job 15.23 He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand. Job 15.24 Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle. Job 15.25 For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty. Job 15.26 He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers: Job 15.27 Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh collops of fat on his flanks. Job 15.28 And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps. Job 15.29 He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth. Job 15.30 He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away. Job 15.31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence. Job 15.32 It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green. Job 15.33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive. Job 15.34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. Job 15.35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.

Job : Chapter 15

Eliphaz's Speech in Job Chapter 15

Chapter 15 of the Book of Job presents the second speech of Eliphaz, a friend of Job. In this passage, Eliphaz intensifies his accusations against Job, accusing him of supposed arrogance. He reaffirms a central tenet of his theology: suffering is always the consequence of sin. This speech addresses important themes such as the tradition of the wise, the innate corruption of humanity, and the destiny of the wicked.

Job 15 represents a particularly strict view of the theology of retribution, where suffering is perceived not only as a trial but also as divine punishment. We invite you to meditate on five biblical passages that resonate with the arguments presented by Eliphaz in this controversial chapter.

Resonant Bible Passages

Proverbs 16:5: "The Lord hates all those who are proud in heart. They will surely be punished." This verse reflects Eliphaz's accusation in Job 15:12-13 regarding Job's pride.

Galatians 6:7: "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." This passage relates to Eliphaz's argument in Job 15:20-35 about the consequences of sin.

Psalm 90:8: "You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence." This echoes Eliphaz's statement in Job 15:15 about man's impurity before God.

James 3:8: "But no one can tame the tongue; it is an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison." This verse connects with Eliphaz's criticism of Job's words in Job 15:2-3.

Romans 3:10: "As it is written, 'There is none righteous, not even one.'" This passage reflects Eliphaz's argument in Job 15:14-16 about the universal corruption of humanity.

By meditating on these verses, we can better understand the depth of Eliphaz's words and the implications they have for our faith and our understanding of suffering and divine justice.