151 Eliphaz of Teman spoke a second time: 2 "If you were truly wise, would you sound so much like a windbag, belching hot air? 3 Would you talk nonsense in the middle of a serious argument, babbling baloney? 4 Look at you! You trivialize religion, turn spiritual conversation into empty gossip. 5 It's your sin that taught you to talk this way. You chose an education in fraud. 6 Your own words have exposed your guilt. It's nothing I've said - you've incriminated yourself! 7 Do you think you're the first person to have to deal with these things? Have you been around as long as the hills? 8 Were you listening in when God planned all this? Do you think you're the only one who knows anything? 9 What do you know that we don't know? What insights do you have that we've missed? 10 Gray beards and white hair back us up - old folks who've been around a lot longer than you. 11 Are God's promises not enough for you, spoken so gently and tenderly? 12 Why do you let your emotions take over, lashing out and spitting fire, 13 Pitting your whole being against God by letting words like this come out of your mouth? 14 Do you think it's possible for any mere mortal to be sinless in God's sight, for anyone born of a human mother to get it all together? 15 Why, God can't even trust his holy angels. He sees the flaws in the very heavens themselves, 16 So how much less we humans, smelly and foul, who lap up evil like water?
17 "I've a thing or two to tell you, so listen up! I'm letting you in on my views; 18 It's what wise men and women have always taught, holding nothing back from what they were taught 19 By their parents, back in the days when they had this land all to themselves: 20 Those who live by their own rules, not God's, can expect nothing but trouble, and the longer they live, the worse it gets. 21 Every little sound terrifies them. Just when they think they have it made, disaster strikes.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 15:1-21
Commentary on Job 15:1-16
(Read Job 15:1-16)
Eliphaz begins a second attack upon Job, instead of being softened by his complaints. He unjustly charges Job with casting off the fear of God, and all regard to him, and restraining prayer. See in what religion is summed up, fearing God, and praying to him; the former the most needful principle, the latter the most needful practice. Eliphaz charges Job with self-conceit. He charges him with contempt of the counsels and comforts given him by his friends. We are apt to think that which we ourselves say is important, when others, with reason, think little of it. He charges him with opposition to God. Eliphaz ought not to have put harsh constructions upon the words of one well known for piety, and now in temptation. It is plain that these disputants were deeply convinced of the doctrine of original sin, and the total depravity of human nature. Shall we not admire the patience of God in bearing with us? and still more his love to us in the redemption of Christ Jesus his beloved Son?
Commentary on Job 15:17-35
(Read Job 15:17-35)
Eliphaz maintains that the wicked are certainly miserable: whence he would infer, that the miserable are certainly wicked, and therefore Job was so. But because many of God's people have prospered in this world, it does not therefore follow that those who are crossed and made poor, as Job, are not God's people. Eliphaz shows also that wicked people, particularly oppressors, are subject to continual terror, live very uncomfortably, and perish very miserably. Will the prosperity of presumptuous sinners end miserably as here described? Then let the mischiefs which befal others, be our warnings. Though no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous, nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby. No calamity, no trouble, however heavy, however severe, can rob a follower of the Lord of his favour. What shall separate him from the love of Christ?