Job 4

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, and said,

And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2 If a man tries to converse with thee, will thou be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?

3 Behold, thou have instructed many, and thou have strengthened the weak hands.

Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;

4 Thy words have upheld him who was falling, and thou have made firm the feeble knees.

Thy words have upholden him that was stumbling, and thou hast braced up the bending knees:

5 But now it comes to thee, and thou faint. It touches thee, and thou are troubled.

But now it is come upon thee, and thou grievest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

6 Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, the integrity of thy ways thy hope?

Hath not thy piety been thy confidence, and the perfection of thy ways thy hope?

7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?

Remember, I pray thee, who that was innocent has perished? and where were the upright cut off?

8 According as I have seen, those who plow iniquity, and sow trouble, reap the same.

Even as I have seen, they that plough iniquity and sow mischief, reap the same.

9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.

By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his nostrils are they consumed.

10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

The roar of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken;

11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.

The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.

12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper of it.

Now to me a word was secretly brought, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.

13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,

In thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men: —

14 fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

Fear came on me, and trembling, and made all my bones to shake;

15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up.

And a spirit passed before my face — the hair of my flesh stood up —

16 It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance of it. A form was before my eyes. There was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

It stood still; I could not discern the appearance thereof: a form was before mine eyes; I heard a slight murmur and a voice:

17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his maker?

Shall [mortal] man be more just than God? Shall a man be purer than his Maker?

18 Behold, he puts no trust in his servants, and he charges his agents with folly.

Lo, he trusteth not his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly:

19 How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!

How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed as the moth!

20 Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding it.

From morning to evening are they smitten: without any heeding it, they perish for ever.

21 Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.

Is not their tent-cord torn away in them? they die, and without wisdom.