Job 15, Eliphaz: "Wicked Always Suffer"

Job has defended himself against the statements of each of his three companions.  Now these "friends" will each give a round of responses to Job's words.

Job 15:1-6, Piety undermined

Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

"Would a wise man answer with empty notions 

or fill his belly with the hot east wind?

Would he argue with useless words, 

with speeches that have no value?

But you even undermine piety 

and hinder devotion to God.

Your sin prompts your mouth; 

you adopt the tongue of the crafty.

Your own mouth condemns you, not mine; 

your own lips testify against you.

Job is again accused by a friend. Job apparently undermines piety by claiming his innocence. This, says Eliphaz, is just "hot air", the hot east wind.

Job 15:7-11, Now wise are you?

"Are you the first man ever born? 

Were you brought forth before the hills?

Do you listen in on God's council? 

Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

What do you know that we do not know? 

What insights do you have that we do not have?

The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, 

men even older than your father.

Are God's consolations not enough for you, 

words spoken gently to you?

All mankind is evil says Eliphaz. Are you any better? All wisdom is on our side. "Wisdom comes to the aged and we quote people older than your father."

Job 15:12-16, Why are you angry at God?

Why has your heart carried you away, 

and why do your eyes flash,

so that you vent your rage against God 

and pour out such words from your mouth?

What is man, that he could be pure, 

or one born of woman, that he could be righteous?

If God places no trust in his holy ones, 

if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,

how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, 

who drinks up evil like water!"

"You are angry at God", says Eliphaz. And no one is pure, he says, not even the "holy ones" are trustworthy, so you, Job, certainly are not. 

Once again, one of Job's friends accuse Job of claiming purity. Instead (says Hartley) Job has claimed to be upright, not pure; Job claims to be sufficiently innocent that he does not deserve the punishment apparently meted out upon him.

The word translated "rage" in verse 13 is really ruach, often translated "spirit" or "breath". Eliphaz is suggesting (says Hartley) that Job's claims of innocence come out of his deep anger. 

Job 15:17-19, What all wise men declare

"Listen to me and I will explain to you; 

let me tell you what I have seen,

what wise men have declared, 

hiding nothing received from their fathers

(to whom alone the land was given when no alien passed among them):

"I will tell you all this accumulated wisdom," says Elikphaz.

Job 15:20-26, Wicked tormented at every turn

All his days the wicked man suffers torment, 

the ruthless through all the years stored up for him.

Terrifying sounds fill his ears; 

when all seems well, marauders attack him.

He despairs of escaping the darkness; 

he is marked for the sword.

He wanders about--food for vultures; 

he knows the day of darkness is at hand.

Distress and anguish fill him with terror; 

they overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack,

because he shakes his fist at God

 and vaunts himself against the Almighty,

defiantly charging against him with a thick, strong shield.

The wicked are always tormented, overwhelmed with distress and terror, claims Eliphaz. They are always anxious and worried! (My reaction: if this were only true...!)

Job 15:27-31, Nothing in return

"Though his face is covered with fat 

and his waist bulges with flesh,

he will inhabit ruined towns and houses where no one lives, 

houses crumbling to rubble.

He will no longer be rich 

and his wealth will not endure, 

nor will his possessions spread over the land.

He will not escape the darkness; 

a flame will wither his shoots, 

and the breath of God's mouth will carry him away.

Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless, 

for he will get nothing in return.

The rich oppressor is miserable, claims Job's friend. (My reaction: but if this were really true, there would be no rich oppressors!)

Job 15:32-34, Tents consumed

Before his time he will be paid in full, 

and his branches will not flourish.

He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, 

like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.

For the company of the godless will be barren, 

and fire will consume the tents of those who love bribes.

The evil one will get paid for evil, says Eliphaz, becoming barren and consumed.

Job 15:35, Wombs of deceit

They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; 

their womb fashions deceit."

Evil gives birth to evil, claims Elikphaz. The corrupt evil person can only give birth to something in their likeness, more corruption, more evil, all of which they themselves suffer.

Eliphaz claims a simple calculus: evil = pain. (This claim is certainly simplistic -- Eliphaz's arguments seem to be regressing. His claims that Job is suffering for his own evil are arrogant, becoming more strident.)