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Chapter 15.
Eliphaz Speaks;
“How you can talk so foolishly and call it wisdom, I do not know. Where do you get these vain ideas from? Are you older than men? You are contradicting what all the learned men have said since the beginning. It is sin that makes you talk as you do as you undermine piety and devotion to God. To say that such men suffer as do the wicked is foolishness. Are you older than all men? have you more wisdom than our fathers? were you the first man ever born? Do you listen in on God’s council? I have spoken to you gently as the voice of God and you fly off the handle with me. Why do you get carried away in your speeches and why do your eyes flash. It is against God you vent your anger. How can you possibly profess to be pure. No man on earth is pure. Even angels have displeased God, how much more we mortals who drink evil like water. With my own eyes I have seen Gods punishment upon the wicked, confirming that wise men have taught us throughout the ages. We know how tormented in mind and body are the wicked who shake their fist defiantly in God’s face.
It is because they know that darkness and desolation awaits them. No matter how fat and prosperous they are, they will come to an untimely end like a vine stripped of unripe grapes, so will all their riches be removed, before they have had a chance to enjoy them.
Chapters 16 -17.
Job’s Fifth Speech
How long will you go rabbiting on? Is there something wrong with you? May be it is you who needs the doctor. If I was in your place I could speak hard and long to you, but I wouldn’t. I would encourage you. You depress me. Some comforters you have turned out to be. How can you comfort with misery?
I have heard enough words I am weary with speaking. I am as man in court. God has bound me up, and my condition seems to endorse my guilt. I look the picture of guilt. God glares at me in his anger, [like a fierce judge]. Men stare in condemnation. They join forces against me. They slap my face, they mock me. God has given me over to evil men. I was doing well till God set me up as a target to aim at. His arrows have struck my kidneys and made my gall spill onto the ground. I have dressed myself in sackcloth and wept till I have no more strength to weep. My face is red and rings circle my eyes. Not because of any wrong I have done, and my prayer is pure when I call for the earth to witness my blood and my cry ever to be heard.
Let there be a witness for me in heaven who will intercede for me as a man speaks for his fellow man. For I will soon be removed from this scene, never to be seen again.
ch 17.
I am at my end. The grave awaits me. You can see the mockers that surround me. I see their constant provocation through my tears.
What price is my bail? will you pay it for me. No-one would pay it. You have prevented them from knowing the truth. Which is probably for the best, for it would not be right for them to make money out of my misfortune by a false guarantee. For we say that if someone flatters or says nice things just for money then his children will be blind and who wants that? They just mock. They despise me with bad language. I can hardly see through my grief, I am a shadow of what I was.
The righteous could be appalled at such unjustice going on. They hate hypocrisy. But their faith will hold, and the test of their faith will make them stronger
But as for you lot, as you come one by one to me. I can't find a wise man among you.
Eliphaz Speaks;
“How you can talk so foolishly and call it wisdom, I do not know. Where do you get these vain ideas from? Are you older than men? You are contradicting what all the learned men have said since the beginning. It is sin that makes you talk as you do as you undermine piety and devotion to God. To say that such men suffer as do the wicked is foolishness. Are you older than all men? have you more wisdom than our fathers? were you the first man ever born? Do you listen in on God’s council? I have spoken to you gently as the voice of God and you fly off the handle with me. Why do you get carried away in your speeches and why do your eyes flash. It is against God you vent your anger. How can you possibly profess to be pure. No man on earth is pure. Even angels have displeased God, how much more we mortals who drink evil like water. With my own eyes I have seen Gods punishment upon the wicked, confirming that wise men have taught us throughout the ages. We know how tormented in mind and body are the wicked who shake their fist defiantly in God’s face.
It is because they know that darkness and desolation awaits them. No matter how fat and prosperous they are, they will come to an untimely end like a vine stripped of unripe grapes, so will all their riches be removed, before they have had a chance to enjoy them.
Chapters 16 -17.
Job’s Fifth Speech
How long will you go rabbiting on? Is there something wrong with you? May be it is you who needs the doctor. If I was in your place I could speak hard and long to you, but I wouldn’t. I would encourage you. You depress me. Some comforters you have turned out to be. How can you comfort with misery?
I have heard enough words I am weary with speaking. I am as man in court. God has bound me up, and my condition seems to endorse my guilt. I look the picture of guilt. God glares at me in his anger, [like a fierce judge]. Men stare in condemnation. They join forces against me. They slap my face, they mock me. God has given me over to evil men. I was doing well till God set me up as a target to aim at. His arrows have struck my kidneys and made my gall spill onto the ground. I have dressed myself in sackcloth and wept till I have no more strength to weep. My face is red and rings circle my eyes. Not because of any wrong I have done, and my prayer is pure when I call for the earth to witness my blood and my cry ever to be heard.
Let there be a witness for me in heaven who will intercede for me as a man speaks for his fellow man. For I will soon be removed from this scene, never to be seen again.
ch 17.
I am at my end. The grave awaits me. You can see the mockers that surround me. I see their constant provocation through my tears.
What price is my bail? will you pay it for me. No-one would pay it. You have prevented them from knowing the truth. Which is probably for the best, for it would not be right for them to make money out of my misfortune by a false guarantee. For we say that if someone flatters or says nice things just for money then his children will be blind and who wants that? They just mock. They despise me with bad language. I can hardly see through my grief, I am a shadow of what I was.
The righteous could be appalled at such unjustice going on. They hate hypocrisy. But their faith will hold, and the test of their faith will make them stronger
But as for you lot, as you come one by one to me. I can't find a wise man among you.
