Eliphaz on the Wicked Man's Doom

Job 15

Eliphaz speaks a second time, accusing Job of casting off fear of the Lord and speaking with empty, presumptuous words. He describes at length the terror, guilt, and inevitable ruin awaiting the wicked man, whose house is abandoned and whose wealth and offspring come to nothing.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonHERE Eliphaz the Thaimanite taking up the argument said:

BrentonThen Eliphaz the Thæmanite answered and said,

GreekὙπολαβὼν δὲ Ἐλιφὰζ ὁ Θαιμανίτης, λέγει,

KJVThen answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

JPSThen answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:

ThomsonWill a wise man give the wind of knowledge for an answer; though he hath therewith filled his labouring belly?

BrentonWill a wise man give for answer a mere breath of wisdom? and does he fill up the pain of his belly,

GreekΠότερον σοφὸς ἀπόκρισιν δώσει συνέσεως πνεῦμα, καὶ ἐνέπλησε πόνον γαστρὸς,

KJVShould a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?

JPSShould a wise man make answer with windy knowledge, And fill his belly with the east wind?

ThomsonOr in pleading use arguments which he ought not; and words in which there is no profit?

Brentonreasoning with improper sayings, and with words wherein is no profit?

Greekἐλέγχων ἐν ῥήμασιν οἷς οὐ δεῖ, καὶ ἐν λόγοις οἷς οὐδὲν ὄφελος;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonHast thou not cast off fear, and used such arguments before the Lord?

BrentonHast not thou moreover cast off fear, and accomplished such words before the Lord?

GreekΟὐ καὶ σὺ ἀπεποιήσω φόβον, συνετελέσω δὲ ῥήματα τοιαῦτα ἔναντι τοῦ Κυρίου;

KJVYea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.

JPS—

ThomsonBy the arguments of thine own mouth thou art guilty; and hast not discerned the arguments of the mighty.

BrentonThou art guilty by the words of thy mouth, neither hast thou discerned the words of the mighty.

GreekἜνοχος εἶ ῥήμασι στόματός σου, οὐδὲ διέκρινας ῥήματα δυναστῶν.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonLet thine own mouth and not me convict thee: thine own lips indeed will testify against thee.

BrentonLet thine own mouth, and not me, reprove thee: and thy lips shall testify against thee.

GreekἘλέγξαι σε τὸ σὸν στόμα καὶ μὴ ἐγὼ, τὰ δὲ χείλη σου καταμαρτυρήσουσι σου.

KJVThine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

JPSThine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I; Yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

ThomsonWhat! wast thou born before men? Or wast thou brought into being before the hills?

BrentonWhat! art thou the first man that was born? or wert thou established before the hills?

GreekΤί γάρ; μὴ πρῶτος ἀνθρώπων ἐγεννήθης; ἢ πρὸ θινῶν ἐπάγης;

KJVArt thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills?

JPSArt thou the first man that was born? Or wast thou brought forth before the hills?

ThomsonOr hast thou heard the established system of the Lord? Or hath God used thee as His counsellor? Or hath wisdom made application to thee?

BrentonOr hast thou heard the ordinance of the Lord? or has God used thee as his counsellor? and has wisdom come only to thee?

GreekἪ σύνταγμα Κυρίου ἀκήκοας; ἢ συμβούλῳ σοι ἐχρήσατο ὁ Θεός; εἰς δέ σε ἀφίκετο σοφία;

KJVHast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?

JPS—

ThomsonFor what knowest thou, which we do not know? Or what dost thou understand which we do not?

BrentonFor what knowest thou, that we know not? or what understandest thou, which we do not also?

GreekΤί γὰρ οἶδας, ὃ οὐκ οἴδαμεν; ἢ τί συνίεις σὺ, ὃ οὐ καὶ ἡμεῖς;

KJVWhat knowest thou, that we know not? what understandest thou, which is not in us?

JPSWhat knowest thou, that we know not? What understandest thou, which is not in us?

ThomsonAmong us indeed are elders and aged men, more venerable for years than thy father.

BrentonTruly among us are both the old and very aged man, more advanced in days than thy father.

GreekΚαί γε πρεσβύτης καί γε παλαιὸς ἐν ἡμῖν, βαρύτερος τοῦ πατρός σου ἡμέραις.

KJVWith us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.

JPSWith us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, Much older than thy father.

ThomsonThou hast been chastised less than thy sins deserve.

BrentonThou hast been scourged for but few of thy sins: thou hast spoken haughtily and extravagantly.

GreekὈλίγα ὧν ἡμάρτηκας μεμαστίγωσαι, μεγάλως ὑπερβαλλόντως λελάληκας.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonThou hast spoken with excessive haughtiness. To what a pitch of boldness is thy heart raised; or at what have thine eyes taken aim;

BrentonWhat has thine heart dared? or what have thine eyes aimed at,

GreekΤί ἐτόλμησεν ἡ καρδία σου; ἢ τί ἐπήνεγκαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου,

KJVWhy doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at,

JPSWhy doth thy heart carry thee away? And why do thine eyes wink?

Thomsonthat thou shouldst vent wrath before the Lord, and utter such words from thy mouth?

Brentonthat thou hast vented thy rage before the Lord, and delivered such words from thy mouth?

Greekὅτι θυμὸν ἔῤῥηξας ἔναντι Κυρίου, ἐξήγαγες δὲ ἐκ στόματος ῥήματα τοιαῦτα;

KJVThat thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?

JPSThat thou turnest thy spirit against God, And lettest such words go out of thy mouth.

ThomsonFor who being mortal can be irreprehensible? Or can the offspring of woman be righteous?

BrentonFor who, being a mortal, is such that he shall be blameless? or, who that is born of a woman, that he should be just?

GreekΤίς γὰρ ὢν βροτὸς, ὅτι ἔσται ἅμεμπτος; ἢ ὡς ἐσόμενος δίκαιος γεννητὸς γυναικός;

KJVWhat is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

JPSWhat is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

ThomsonIf in His holy ones he placeth not confidence; and the heaven is not pure in His sight;

BrentonForasmuch as he trusts not his saints; and the heaven is not pure before him.

GreekΕἰ κατὰ ἁγίων οὐ πιστεύει, οὐρανὸς δὲ οὐ καθαρὸς ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonAlas then, abominable and unclean is man, drinking unrighteousness as a draught.

GreekἜα δὲ ἐβδελυγμένος καὶ ἀκάθαρτος ἀνὴρ, πίνων ἀδικίας ἶσα ποτῷ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonBut let me tell thee—hear what I have seen—

BrentonBut I will tell thee, hearken to me; I will tell thee now what I have seen;

GreekἈναγγελῶ δέ σοι, ἄκουέ μου, ἃ δὴ ἑώρακα, ἀναγγελῶ σοι,

KJVI will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare;

JPSI will tell thee, hear thou me; And that which I have seen I will declare—

Thomsonlet me tell thee what the wise say, and their fathers have not concealed—

Brentonthings wise men say, and their fathers have not hidden.

Greekἃ σοφοὶ ἐροῦσι, καὶ οὐκ ἔκρυψαν πατέρες αὐτῶν.

KJVWhich wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it:

JPSWhich wise men have told From their fathers, and have not hid it;

Thomsonthey, to whom alone the earth was given; and no stranger came among them:

BrentonTo them alone the earth was given, and no stranger came upon them.

GreekΑὐτοῖς μόνοις ἐδόθη ἡ γῆ, καὶ οὐκ ἐπῆλθεν ἀλλογενὴς ἐπʼ αὐτούς.

KJVUnto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them.

JPSUnto whom alone the land was given, And no stranger passed among them.

ThomsonThe whole life of the wicked is spent in anxiety. Though a certain number of years is given to the oppressor,

BrentonAll the life of the ungodly is spent in care, and the years granted to the oppressor are numbered.

GreekΠᾶς ὁ βίος ἀσεβοῦς ἐν φροντίδι, ἔτη δὲ ἀριθμητὰ δεδομένα δυνάστῃ.

KJVThe wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.

JPSThe wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, Even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.

Thomsonyet the sound of terror is in his ears. When he seemeth to be at peace his destruction shall come.

BrentonAnd his terror is in his ears: just when he seems to be at peace, his overthrow will come.

GreekὉ δὲ φόβος αὐτοῦ ἐν ὠσὶν αὐτοῦ· ὅταν δοκῇ ἤδη εἰρηνεύειν, ἥξει αὐτοῦ ἡ καταστροφή.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonLet him not hope to return out of darkness; for he is already doomed to the edge of the sword,

BrentonLet him not trust that he shall return from darkness, for he has been already made over to the power of the sword.

GreekΜὴ πιστευέτω ἀποστραφῆναι ἀπὸ σκότους, ἐντέταλται γὰρ ἤδη εἰς χεῖρας σιδήρου,

KJVHe believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.

JPSHe believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, And he is waited for of the sword.

Thomsonand destined to be food for vultures. He knoweth within himself that he waiteth for a fall; and a dark day will torture him.

BrentonAnd he has been appointed to be food for vultures; and he knows within himself that he is doomed to be a carcase: and a dark day shall carry him away as with a whirlwind.

Greekκατατέτακται δὲ εἰς σῖτα γυψίν· οἶδε δὲ ἐν ἑαυτῷ ὅτι μένει εἰς πτῶμα· ἡμέρα δὲ σκοτεινὴ αὐτὸν στροβήσει,

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonDistress and anguish will overwhelm him; like a general at the head of troops falling upon him.

BrentonDistress also and anguish shall come upon him: he shall fall as a captain in the first rank.

Greekἀνάγκη δὲ καὶ θλίψις αὐτὸν καθέξει, ὥσπερ στρατηγὸς πρωτοστάτης πίπτων·

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonBecause he lifted up his hands against the Lord, and hardened his neck against the Lord Almighty:

BrentonFor he has lifted his hands against the Lord, and he has hardened his neck against the Almighty Lord.

GreekὍτι ᾖρκε χεῖρας ἐναντίον τοῦ Κυρίου, ἔναντι δὲ Κυρίου παντοκράτορος ἐτραχηλίασεν.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonAnd he has run against him with insolence, on the thickness of the back of his shield.

GreekἜδραμε δὲ ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ ὕβρει, ἐν πάχει νώτου ἀσπίδος αὐτοῦ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonBecause he covered his face with fatness; and made collops of fat upon his thighs;

BrentonFor he has covered his face with his fat, and made layers of fat upon his thighs.

GreekὍτι ἐκάλυψε τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐν στέατι αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐποίησε περιστόμιον ἐπὶ τῶν μηρίων.

KJV—

JPSBecause he hath covered his face with his fatness, And made collops of fat on his loins;

Thomsonlet him therefore lodge in deserted cities, and go into uninhabited houses; and what they had got ready, let others carry off.

BrentonAnd let him lodge in desolate cities, and enter into houses without inhabitant: and what they have prepared, others shall carry away.

GreekΑὐλισθείη δὲ πόλεις ἐρήμους, εἰσέλθοι δὲ εἰς οἴκους ἀοικήτους· ἃ δὲ ἐκεῖνοι ἡτοίμασαν, ἄλλοι ἀποίσονται.

KJVAnd he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonNeither shall he at all grow rich, nor shall his substance remain: he shall not cast a shadow upon the earth.

GreekΟὔτε μὴ πλουτισθῇ, οὔτε μὴ μείνῃ αὐτοῦ τὰ ὑπάρχοντα· οὐ μὴ βάλῃ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν σκιὰν,

KJVHe shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.

JPSHe shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, Neither shall their produce bend to the earth.

ThomsonLet him never cast a shadow on the ground, nor escape out of darkness.

BrentonNeither shall he in any wise escape the darkness: let the wind blast his blossom, and let his flower fall off.

Greekοὐδὲ μὴ ἐκφύγῃ τὸ σκότος· τὸν βλαστὸν αὐτοῦ μαράναι ἄνεμος, ἐκπέσοι δὲ αὐτοῦ τὸ ἄνθος.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonLet the wind blast his bud, and his blossom fall prematurely. Let him not hope to continue, for vanity shall be his portion.

BrentonLet him not think that he shall endure; for his end shall be vanity.

GreekΜὴ πιστευέτω ὅτι ὑπομενεῖ, κενὰ γὰρ ἀποβήσεται αὐτῷ.

KJVLet not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.

JPSLet him not trust in vanity, deceiving himself; For vanity shall be his recompense.

ThomsonLet his branch lopped unseasonably, die; and let not his young shoot flourish.

BrentonHis harvest shall perish before the time, and his branch shall not flourish.

GreekἩ τομὴ αὐτοῦ πρὸ ὥρας φθαρήσεται, καὶ ὁ ῥάδαμνος αὐτοῦ οὐ μὴ πυκάσῃ.

KJVIt shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green.

JPSIt shall be accomplished before his time, And his branch shall not be leafy.

ThomsonLet him be gathered like unripe grapes before his time, and fall like the olive blossom.

BrentonAnd let him be gathered as the unripe grape before the time, and let him fall as the blossom of the olive.

GreekΤρυγηθείη δὲ ὡς ὄμφαξ πρὸ ὥρας, ἐκπέσοι δὲ ὡς ἄνθος ἐλαίας.

KJVHe shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.

JPSHe shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, And shall cast off his flower as the olive.

Thomson—

BrentonFor death is the witness of an ungodly man, and fire shall burn the houses of them that receive gifts.

GreekΜαρτύριον γὰρ ἀσεβοῦς θάνατος· πῦρ δὲ καύσει οἴκους δωροδεκτῶν·

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonFor death is the testimonial of a wicked man: and a fire shall consume the tents of bribery. He shall conceive sorrows and bring forth vanity, and his belly shall produce an illusion.

BrentonAnd he shall conceive sorrows, and his end shall be vanity, and his belly shall bear deceit.

GreekἘν γαστρὶ δὲ λήψεται ὀδύνας, ἀποβήσεται δὲ αὐτῷ κενὰ, ἡ δὲ κοιλία αὐτοῦ ὑποίσει δόλον.

KJVThey conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.

JPSThey conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity, And their belly prepareth deceit.