Job 4
1 But Eliphaz the Themanite, answering, said:
And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 If we start to speak to you, perhaps you will take it badly, but who can hold back the words he has conceived?
If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?
3 Behold, you have taught many, and you have strengthened weary hands.
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;
4 Your words have reassured the wavering, and you have fortified the trembling knees.
Thy words have upholden him that was stumbling, and thou hast braced up the bending knees:
5 But now the scourge has overcome you, and you falter. It has touched you, and you are disturbed.
But now it is come upon thee, and thou grievest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
6 Where is your reverence, your fortitude, your patience, and the perfection of your ways?
Hath not thy piety been thy confidence, and the perfection of thy ways thy hope?
7 Consider this, I beg you: who ever perished being innocent? Or when have the righteous been destroyed?
Remember, I pray thee, who that was innocent has perished? and where were the upright cut off?
8 In fact, I have instead seen those who work iniquity and who sow resentments, reap them,
Even as I have seen, they that plough iniquity and sow mischief, reap the same.
9 perishing by the breath of God, and being consumed by the wrath of his spirit.
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 lioness, and the teeth of young lions have been worn away.
The roar of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken;
11 The tiger has perished because it does not have prey, and the young lions have been scattered.
The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
12 Furthermore, a word was spoken to me in secret, and, as if by theft, my ears received the pulse of its whisper.
Now to me a word was secretly brought, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
13 In the horror of a vision by night, when men are accustomed to be overtaken by a deep sleep,
In thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men: —
14 fear and trembling seized me and all my bones were terrified.
Fear came on me, and trembling, and made all my bones to shake;
15 And when a spirit passed before me, the hair on my body stood up.
And a spirit passed before my face — the hair of my flesh stood up —
16 There appeared an image before my eyes, someone whose face I did not recognize, and I heard a voice like a gentle breeze.
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 Should man be justified in relation to God, or will 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, those who serve him are not steadfast, and in his angels he finds imperfection.
Lo, he trusteth not his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly:
19 How much more will those who live in houses of clay, which have an earthly foundation, be consumed like 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 From morning all the way to evening, they will be cut down, and because no one understands, they will be destroyed without ceasing.
From morning to evening are they smitten: without any heeding it, they perish for ever.
21 But those who are left behind will be taken away from them; they will die, and not in wisdom.
Is not their tent-cord torn away in them? they die, and without wisdom.
