1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,
2 Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?
3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?
4 Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.
5 For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.
6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.
7 Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills?
8 Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?
9 What knowest thou, that we know not? what understandest thou, which is not in us?
10 With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.
11 Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?
12 Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at,
13 That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?
14 What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.
16 How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
17 I will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare;
18 Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it:
19 Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them.
20 The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.
21 A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.
22 He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.
23 He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
24 Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.
25 For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty.
26 He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers:
27 Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh collops of fat on his flanks.
28 And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.
29 He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.
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.
31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.
32 It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green.
33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.
34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.
35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.
1 Then answered H6030 Eliphaz H464 the Temanite, H8489 and said, H559
2 Should a wise man H2450 utter H6030 vain H7307 knowledge, H1847 and fill H4390 his belly H990 with the east wind? H6921
3 Should he reason H3198 with unprofitable H5532 talk? H1697 or with speeches H4405 wherewith he can do no good? H3276
4 Yea, thou castest off H6565 fear, H3374 and restrainest H1639 prayer H7881 before H6440 God. H410
5 For thy mouth H6310 uttereth H502 thine iniquity, H5771 and thou choosest H977 the tongue H3956 of the crafty. H6175
6 Thine own mouth H6310 condemneth H7561 thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips H8193 testify H6030 against thee.
7 Art thou the first H7223 H7223 man H120 that was born? H3205 or wast thou made H2342 before H6440 the hills? H1389
8 Hast thou heard H8085 the secret H5475 of God? H433 and dost thou restrain H1639 wisdom H2451 to thyself?
9 What knowest H3045 thou, that we know H3045 not? what understandest H995 thou, which is not in us?
10 With us are both the grayheaded H7867 and very aged H3453 men, much H3524 elder H3117 than thy father. H1
11 Are the consolations H8575 of God H410 small H4592 with thee? is there any secret H328 thing H1697 with thee?
12 Why doth thine heart H3820 carry thee away? H3947 and what do thy eyes H5869 wink at, H7335
13 That thou turnest H7725 thy spirit H7307 against God, H410 and lettest such words H4405 go out H3318 of thy mouth? H6310
14 What is man, H582 that he should be clean? H2135 and he which is born H3205 of a woman, H802 that he should be righteous? H6663
15 Behold, he putteth no trust H539 in his saints; H6918 yea, the heavens H8064 are not clean H2141 in his sight. H5869
16 How much more abominable H8581 and filthy H444 is man, H376 which drinketh H8354 iniquity H5766 H5766 like water? H4325
17 I will shew H2331 thee, hear H8085 me; and that which I have seen H2372 I will declare; H5608
18 Which wise H2450 men have told H5046 from their fathers, H1 and have not hid H3582 it:
19 Unto whom alone the earth H776 was given, H5414 and no stranger H2114 passed H5674 among H8432 them.
20 The wicked H7563 man travaileth H2342 with pain all his days, H3117 and the number H4557 of years H8141 is hidden H6845 to the oppressor. H6184
21 A dreadful H6343 sound H6963 is in his ears: H241 in prosperity H7965 the destroyer H7703 shall come H935 upon him.
22 He believeth H539 not that he shall return H7725 out of darkness, H2822 and he is waited H6822 for of the sword. H2719
23 He wandereth abroad H5074 for bread, H3899 saying, Where is it? he knoweth H3045 that the day H3117 of darkness H2822 is ready H3559 at his hand. H3027
24 Trouble H6862 and anguish H4691 shall make him afraid; H1204 they shall prevail H8630 against him, as a king H4428 ready H6264 to the battle. H3593
25 For he stretcheth out H5186 his hand H3027 against God, H410 and strengtheneth H1396 himself against the Almighty. H7706
26 He runneth H7323 upon him, even on his neck, H6677 upon the thick H5672 bosses H1354 of his bucklers: H4043
27 Because he covereth H3680 his face H6440 with his fatness, H2459 and maketh H6213 collops of fat H6371 on his flanks. H3689
28 And he dwelleth H7931 in desolate H3582 cities, H5892 and in houses H1004 which no man inhabiteth, H3427 which are ready H6257 to become heaps. H1530
29 He shall not be rich, H6238 neither shall his substance H2428 continue, H6965 neither shall he prolong H5186 the perfection H4512 thereof upon the earth. H776
30 He shall not depart H5493 out of darkness; H2822 the flame H7957 shall dry up H3001 his branches, H3127 and by the breath H7307 of his mouth H6310 shall he go away. H5493
31 Let not him that is deceived H8582 trust H539 in vanity: H7723 for vanity H7723 shall be his recompence. H8545
32 It shall be accomplished H4390 before H3808 his time, H3117 and his branch H3712 shall not be green. H7488
33 He shall shake off H2554 his unripe grape H1154 as the vine, H1612 and shall cast off H7993 his flower H5328 as the olive. H2132
34 For the congregation H5712 of hypocrites H2611 shall be desolate, H1565 and fire H784 shall consume H398 the tabernacles H168 of bribery. H7810
35 They conceive H2029 mischief, H5999 and bring forth H3205 vanity, H205 and their belly H990 prepareth H3559 deceit. H4820
1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,
2 Should a wise man make answer with vain knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind?
3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk, Or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?
4 Yea, thou doest away with fear, And hinderest devotion before God.
5 For thine iniquity teacheth thy mouth, And thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.
6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I; Yea, thine own lips testify against thee.
7 Art thou the first man that was born? Or wast thou brought forth before the hills?
8 Hast thou heard the secret counsel of God? And dost thou limit wisdom to thyself?
9 What knowest thou, that we know not? What understandest thou, which is not in us?
10 With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, Much elder than thy father.
11 Are the consolations of God too small for thee, Even the word that is gentle toward thee?
12 Why doth thy heart carry thee away? And why do thine eyes flash,
13 That against God thou turnest thy spirit, And lettest words go out of thy mouth?
14 What is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his holy ones; Yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight:
16 How much less one that is abominable and corrupt, A man that drinketh iniquity like water!
17 I will show thee, hear thou me; And that which I have seen I will declare:
18 (Which wise men have told From their fathers, and have not hid it;
19 Unto whom alone the land was given, And no stranger passed among them):
20 The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, Even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.
21 A sound of terrors is in his ears; In prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.
22 He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, And he is waited for of the sword.
23 He wandereth abroad for bread, `saying', Where is it? He knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
24 Distress and anguish make him afraid; They prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.
25 Because he hath stretched out his hand against God, And behaveth himself proudly against the Almighty;
26 He runneth upon him with a `stiff' neck, With the thick bosses of his bucklers;
27 Because he hath covered his face with his fatness, And gathered fat upon his loins;
28 And he hath dwelt in desolate cities, In houses which no man inhabited, Which were ready to become heaps;
29 He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, Neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth.
30 He shall not depart out of darkness; The flame shall dry up his branches, And by the breath of `God's' mouth shall he go away.
31 Let him not trust in vanity, deceiving himself; For vanity shall be his recompense.
32 It shall be accomplished before his time, And his branch shall not be green.
33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, And shall cast off his flower as the olive-tree.
34 For the company of the godless shall be barren, And fire shall consume the tents of bribery.
35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity, And their heart prepareth deceit.
1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: --
2 Doth a wise man answer `with' vain knowledge? And fill `with' an east wind his belly?
3 To reason with a word not useful? And speeches -- no profit in them?
4 Yea, thou dost make reverence void, And dost diminish meditation before God.
5 For thy mouth teacheth thine iniquity, And thou chooseth the tongue of the subtile.
6 Thy mouth declareth thee wicked, and not I, And thy lips testify against thee.
7 The first man art thou born? And before the heights wast thou formed?
8 Of the secret counsel of God dost thou hear? And withdrawest thou unto thee wisdom?
9 What hast thou known, and we know not? Understandest thou -- and it is not with us?
10 Both the gray-headed And the very aged `are' among us -- Greater than thy father `in' days.
11 Too few for thee are the comforts of God? And a gentle word `is' with thee,
12 What -- doth thine heart take thee away? And what -- are thine eyes high?
13 For thou turnest against God thy spirit? And hast brought out words from thy mouth:
14 What `is' man that he is pure, And that he is righteous, one born of woman?
15 Lo, in His holy ones He putteth no credence, And the heavens have not been pure in His eyes.
16 Also -- surely abominable and filthy Is man drinking as water perverseness.
17 I shew thee -- hearken to me -- And this I have seen and declare:
18 Which the wise declare -- And have not hid -- from their fathers.
19 To them alone was the land given, And a stranger passed not over into their midst:
20 `All days of the wicked he is paining himself, And few years have been laid up for the terrible one.
21 A fearful voice `is' in his ears, In peace doth a destroyer come to him.
22 He believeth not to return from darkness, And watched `is' he for the sword.
23 He is wandering for bread -- `Where `is' it?' He hath known that ready at his hand Is a day of darkness.
24 Terrify him do adversity and distress, They prevail over him As a king ready for a boaster.
25 For he stretched out against God his hand, And against the Mighty he maketh himself mighty.
26 He runneth unto Him with a neck, With thick bosses of his shields.
27 For he hath covered his face with his fat, And maketh vigour over `his' confidence.
28 And he inhabiteth cities cut off, houses not dwelt in, That have been ready to become heaps.
29 He is not rich, nor doth his wealth rise, Nor doth he stretch out on earth their continuance.
30 He turneth not aside from darkness, His tender branch doth a flame dry up, And he turneth aside at the breath of His mouth!
31 Let him not put credence in vanity, He hath been deceived, For vanity is his recompence.
32 Not in his day is it completed, And his bending branch is not green.
33 He shaketh off as a vine his unripe fruit, And casteth off as an olive his blossom.
34 For the company of the profane `is' gloomy, And fire hath consumed tents of bribery.
35 To conceive misery, and to bear iniquity, Even their heart doth prepare deceit.
1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind,
3 Reasoning with unprofitable talk, and with speeches which do no good?
4 Yea, thou makest piety of none effect, and restrainest meditation before ùGod.
5 For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou hast chosen the tongue of the crafty.
6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I; and thy lips testify against thee.
7 Art thou the first man that was born? and wast thou brought forth before the hills?
8 Hast thou listened in the secret council of +God? And hast thou absorbed wisdom for thyself?
9 What knowest thou that we know not? [what] understandest thou which is not in us?
10 Both the greyheaded and the aged are with us, older than thy father.
11 Are the consolations of ùGod too small for thee? and the word gently spoken to thee?
12 Why doth thy heart carry thee away? and why do thine eyes wink?
13 That thou turnest thy spirit against ùGod, and lettest words go out of thy mouth?
14 What is man, that he should be pure? and he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his holy ones, and the heavens are not pure in his sight:
16 How much less the abominable and corrupt, -- man, that drinketh unrighteousness like water!
17 I will shew thee, listen to me; and what I have seen I will declare;
18 Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hidden;
19 Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them.
20 All his days the wicked man is tormented, and numbered years are allotted to the violent.
21 The sound of terrors is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer cometh upon him.
22 He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is singled out for the sword.
23 He wandereth abroad for bread, -- where may it be? He knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
24 Distress and anguish make him afraid; they prevail against him, as a king ready for the battle.
25 For he hath stretched out his hand against ùGod, and strengthened himself against the Almighty:
26 He runneth against him, with [outstretched] neck, with the thick bosses of his bucklers;
27 For he hath covered his face with his fatness, and gathered fat upon [his] flanks.
28 And he dwelleth in desolate cities, in houses that no man inhabiteth, which are destined to become heaps.
29 He shall not become rich, neither shall his substance continue, and their possessions shall not extend upon the earth.
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.
31 Let him not trust in vanity: he is deceived, for vanity shall be his recompense;
32 It shall be complete before his day, and his branch shall not be green.
33 He shall shake off his unripe grapes as a vine, and shall cast his flower as an olive.
34 For the family of the ungodly shall be barren, and fire shall consume the tents of bribery.
35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity, and their belly prepareth deceit.
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
2 "Should a wise man answer with vain knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind?
3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk, Or with speeches with which he can do no good?
4 Yes, you do away with fear, And hinder devotion before God.
5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth, And you choose the language of the crafty.
6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; Yes, your own lips testify against you.
7 "Are you the first man who was born? Or were you brought forth before the hills?
8 Have you heard the secret counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
9 What do you know, that we don't know? What do you understand, which is not in us?
10 With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, Much elder than your father.
11 Are the consolations of God too small for you, Even the word that is gentle toward you?
12 Why does your heart carry you away? Why do your eyes flash,
13 That you turn your spirit against God, And let such words go out of your mouth?
14 What is man, that he should be clean? He who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
15 Behold, he puts no trust in his holy ones; Yes, the heavens are not clean in his sight:
16 How much less one who is abominable and corrupt, A man who drinks iniquity like water!
17 "I will show you, listen to me; That which I have seen I will declare:
18 (Which wise men have told From their fathers, and have not hidden it;
19 To whom alone the land was given, And no stranger passed among them):
20 The wicked man travails with pain all his days, Even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.
21 A sound of terrors is in his ears; In prosperity the destroyer shall come on him.
22 He doesn't believe that he shall return out of darkness, He is waited for by the sword.
23 He wanders abroad for bread, saying, 'Where is it?' He knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
24 Distress and anguish make him afraid; They prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.
25 Because he has stretched out his hand against God, And behaves himself proudly against the Almighty;
26 He runs at him with a stiff neck, With the thick shields of his bucklers;
27 Because he has covered his face with his fatness, And gathered fat on his loins.
28 He has lived in desolate cities, In houses which no one inhabited, Which were ready to become heaps.
29 He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, Neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth.
30 He shall not depart out of darkness; The flame shall dry up his branches, By the breath of God's mouth shall he go away.
31 Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; For emptiness shall be his reward.
32 It shall be accomplished before his time. His branch shall not be green.
33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, And shall cast off his flower as the olive tree.
34 For the company of the godless shall be barren, And fire shall consume the tents of bribery.
35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. Their heart prepares deceit."
1 And Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,
2 Will a wise man make answer with knowledge of no value, or will he give birth to the east wind?
3 Will he make arguments with words in which is no profit, and with sayings which have no value?
4 Truly, you make the fear of God without effect, so that the time of quiet worship before God is made less by your outcry.
5 For your mouth is guided by your sin, and you have taken the tongue of the false for yourself.
6 It is by your mouth, even yours, that you are judged to be in the wrong, and not by me; and your lips give witness against you.
7 Were you the first man to come into the world? or did you come into being before the hills?
8 Were you present at the secret meeting of God? and have you taken all wisdom for yourself?
9 What knowledge have you which we have not? is there anything in your mind which is not in ours?
10 With us are men who are grey-haired and full of years, much older than your father.
11 Are the comforts of God not enough for you, and the gentle word which was said to you?
12 Why is your heart uncontrolled, and why are your eyes lifted up;
13 So that you are turning your spirit against God, and letting such words go out of your mouth?
14 What is man, that he may be clean? and how may the son of woman be upright?
15 Truly, he puts no faith in his holy ones, and the heavens are not clean in his eyes;
16 How much less one who is disgusting and unclean, a man who takes in evil like water!
17 Take note and give ear to my words; and I will say what I have seen:
18 (The things which wise men have got from their fathers, and have not kept secret from us;
19 For only to them was the land given, and no strange people were among them:)
20 The evil man is in pain all his days, and the number of the years stored up for the cruel is small.
21 A sound of fear is in his ears; in time of peace destruction will come on him:
22 He has no hope of coming safe out of the dark, and his fate will be the sword;
23 He is wandering about in search of bread, saying, Where is it? and he is certain that the day of trouble is ready for him:
24 He is greatly in fear of the dark day, trouble and pain overcome him:
25 Because his hand is stretched out against God, and his heart is lifted up against the Ruler of all,
26 Running against him like a man of war, covered by his thick breastplate; even like a king ready for the fight,
27 Because his face is covered with fat, and his body has become thick;
28 And he has made his resting-place in the towns which have been pulled down, in houses where no man had a right to be, whose fate was to become masses of broken walls.
29 He does not get wealth for himself, and is unable to keep what he has got; the heads of his grain are not bent down to the earth.
30 He does not come out of the dark; his branches are burned by the flame, and the wind takes away his bud.
31 Let him not put his hope in what is false, falling into error: for he will get deceit as his reward.
32 His branch is cut off before its time, and his leaf is no longer green.
33 He is like a vine whose grapes do not come to full growth, or an olive-tree dropping its flowers.
34 For the band of the evil-doers gives no fruit, and the tents of those who give wrong decisions for reward are burned with fire.
35 Evil has made them with child, and they give birth to trouble; and the fruit of their body is shame for themselves.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 15
Commentary on Job 15 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 15
SECOND SERIES.
Job 15:1-35. Second Speech of Eliphaz.
2. a wise man—which Job claims to be.
vain knowledge—Hebrew, "windy knowledge"; literally, "of wind" (Job 8:2). In Ec 1:14, Hebrew, "to catch wind," expresses to strive for what is vain.
east wind—stronger than the previous "wind," for in that region the east wind is the most destructive of winds (Isa 27:8). Thus here,—empty violence.
belly—the inward parts, the breast (Pr 18:8).
4. fear—reverence for God (Job 4:6; Ps 2:11).
prayer—meditation, in Ps 104:34; so devotion. If thy views were right, reasons Eliphaz, that God disregards the afflictions of the righteous and makes the wicked to prosper, all devotion would be at an end.
5. The sophistry of thine own speeches proves thy guilt.
6. No pious man would utter such sentiments.
7. That is, Art thou wisdom personified? Wisdom existed before the hills; that is, the eternal Son of God (Pr 8:25; Ps 90:2). Wast thou in existence before Adam? The farther back one existed, the nearer he was to the Eternal Wisdom.
8. secret—rather, "Wast thou a listener in the secret council of God?" The Hebrew means properly the cushions of a divan on which counsellors in the East usually sit. God's servants are admitted to God's secrets (Ps 25:14; Ge 18:17; Joh 15:15).
restrain—Rather, didst thou take away, or borrow, thence (namely, from the divine secret council) thy wisdom? Eliphaz in this (Job 15:8, 9) retorts Job's words upon himself (Job 12:2, 3; 13:2).
9. in us—or, "with us," Hebraism for "we are aware of."
10. On our side, thinking with us are the aged. Job had admitted that wisdom is with them (Job 12:12). Eliphaz seems to have been himself older than Job; perhaps the other two were also (Job 32:6). Job, in Job 30:1, does not refer to his three friends; it therefore forms no objection. The Arabs are proud of fulness of years.
11. consolations—namely, the revelation which Eliphaz had stated as a consolatory reproof to Job, and which he repeats in Job 15:14.
secret—Hast thou some secret wisdom and source of consolation, which makes thee disregard those suggested by me? (Job 15:8). Rather, from a different Hebrew root, Is the word of kindness or gentleness addressed by me treated by thee as valueless? [Umbreit].
12. wink—that is, why do thy eyes evince pride? (Pr 6:13; Ps 35:19).
13. That is, frettest against God and lettest fall rash words.
14. Eliphaz repeats the revelation (Job 4:17) in substance, but using Job's own words (see on Job 14:1, on "born of a woman") to strike him with his own weapons.
15. Repeated from Job 4:18; "servants" there are "saints" here; namely, holy angels.
heavens—literally, or else answering to "angels" (see on Job 4:18, and Job 25:5).
16. filthy—in Arabic "sour" (Ps 14:3; 53:3), corrupted from his original purity.
drinketh—(Pr 19:28).
17. In direct contradiction of Job's position (Job 12:6, &c.), that the lot of the wicked was the most prosperous here, Eliphaz appeals (1) to his own experience, (2) to the wisdom of the ancients.
18. Rather, "and which as handed down from their fathers, they have not concealed."
19. Eliphaz speaks like a genuine Arab when he boasts that his ancestors had ever possessed the land unmixed with foreigners [Umbreit]. His words are intended to oppose Job's (Job 9:24); "the earth" in their case was not "given into the hand of the wicked." He refers to the division of the earth by divine appointment (Ge 10:5; 25:32). Also he may insinuate that Job's sentiments had been corrupted from original purity by his vicinity to the Sabeans and Chaldeans [Rosenmuller].
20. travaileth—rather, "trembleth of himself," though there is no real danger [Umbreit].
and the number of his years, &c.—This gives the reason why the wicked man trembles continually; namely, because he knows not the moment when his life must end.
21. An evil conscience conceives alarm at every sudden sound, though it be in a time of peace ("prosperity"), when there is no real danger (Le 26:36; Pr 28:1; 2Ki 7:6).
22. darkness—namely, danger or calamity. Glancing at Job, who despaired of restoration: in contrast to good men when in darkness (Mic 7:8, 9).
waited for of—that is, He is destined for the sword [Gesenius]. Rather (in the night of danger), "he looks anxiously towards the sword," as if every sword was drawn against him [Umbreit].
23. Wandereth in anxious search for bread. Famine in Old Testament depicts sore need (Isa 5:13). Contrast the pious man's lot (Job 5:20-22).
knoweth—has the firm conviction. Contrast the same word applied to the pious (Job 5:24, 25).
ready at his hand—an Arabic phrase to denote a thing's complete readiness and full presence, as if in the hand.
24. prevail—break upon him suddenly and terribly, as a king, &c. (Pr 6:11).
25. stretcheth … hand—wielding the spear, as a bold rebel against God (Job 9:4; Isa 27:4).
26. on his neck—rather, "with outstretched neck," namely, that of the rebel [Umbreit] (Ps 75:5).
upon … bucklers—rather, "with—his (the rebel's, not God's) bucklers." The rebel and his fellows are depicted as joining shields together, to form a compact covering over their heads against the weapons hurled on them from a fortress [Umbreit and Gesenius].
27. The well-nourished body of the rebel is the sign of his prosperity.
collops—masses of fat. He pampers and fattens himself with sensual indulgences; hence his rebellion against God (De 32:15; 1Sa 2:29).
28. The class of wicked here described is that of robbers who plunder "cities," and seize on the houses of the banished citizens (Isa 13:20). Eliphaz chooses this class because Job had chosen the same (Job 12:6).
heaps—of ruins.
29. Rather, he shall not increase his riches; he has reached his highest point; his prosperity shall not continue.
perfection—rather, "His acquired wealth—what he possesses—shall not be extended," &c.
30. depart—that is, escape (Job 15:22, 23).
branches—namely, his offspring (Job 1:18, 19; Ps 37:35).
dry up—The "flame" is the sultry wind in the East by which plants most full of sap are suddenly shrivelled.
his mouth—that is, God's wrath (Isa 11:4).
31. Rather, "let him not trust in vanity or he will be deceived," &c.
vanity—that which is unsubstantial. Sin is its own punishment (Pr 1:31; Jer 2:19).
32. Literally, "it (the tree to which he is compared, Job 15:30, or else his life) shall not be filled up in its time"; that is, "he shall be ended before his time."
shall not be green—image from a withered tree; the childless extinction of the wicked.
33. Images of incompleteness. The loss of the unripe grapes is poetically made the vine tree's own act, in order to express more pointedly that the sinner's ruin is the fruit of his own conduct (Isa 3:11; Jer 6:19).
34. Rather, The binding together of the hypocrites (wicked) shall be fruitless [Umbreit].
tabernacles of bribery—namely, dwellings of unjust judges, often reprobated in the Old Testament (Isa 1:23). The "fire of God" that consumed Job's possessions (Job 1:16) Eliphaz insinuates may have been on account of Job's bribery as an Arab sheik or emir.
35. Bitter irony, illustrating the "unfruitfulness" (Job 15:34) of the wicked. Their conceptions and birthgivings consist solely in mischief, &c. (Isa 33:11).
prepareth—hatcheth.