Job 4
1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered Job.
2 If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?
“Could I say a word? I don't want to upset you but who could keep quiet and not respond?
3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;
You've certainly encouraged many people and supported those who are weak.
4 Thy words have upholden him that was stumbling, and thou hast braced up the bending knees:
Your advice has helped those who are stumbling not to fall, and you have strengthened those whose knees are weak.
5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou grievest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
But now you're the one suffering and you're upset.
6 Hath not thy piety been thy confidence, and the perfection of thy ways thy hope?
Wasn't it your reverence for God that gave you confidence and your integrity that gave you hope?
7 Remember, I pray thee, who that was innocent has perished? and where were the upright cut off?
Think about it: since when did the innocent die? Since when were good people destroyed?
8 Even as I have seen, they that plough iniquity and sow mischief, reap the same.
From what I've seen it's those who plant evil and sow trouble who reap the same!
9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his nostrils are they consumed.
A breath from God destroys them; a blast of his anger wipes them out.
10 The roar of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken;
Lions may roar and growl, but their teeth still break.
11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
Even a lion dies from lack of food, and the lioness' cubs are scattered.
12 Now to me a word was secretly brought, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
A word quietly crept up on me; a whisper reached my ear.
13 In thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men: —
Troubling thoughts came to me in nightmares when you fall into a deep sleep.
14 Fear came on me, and trembling, and made all my bones to shake;
I became terrified and trembled; all my bones were shaking.
15 And a spirit passed before my face — the hair of my flesh stood up —
Then a breath brushed my face and gave me goose-pimples.
16 It stood still; I could not discern the appearance thereof: a form was before mine eyes; I heard a slight murmur and a voice:
Something stopped, but I couldn't see its face. My eyes could only make out a shape. It was totally quiet, and then I heard a voice:
17 Shall [mortal] man be more just than God? Shall a man be purer than his Maker?
‘Can anyone be right before God? Can anyone be pure before their Maker?
18 Lo, he trusteth not his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly:
If he doesn't even trust his servants, and he says his angels make mistakes,
19 How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed as the moth!
how much more does this apply to those who live in these houses made of clay, whose foundations are based on dust, who fall apart like clothing to a moth?
20 From morning to evening are they smitten: without any heeding it, they perish for ever.
Alive in the morning, they are dead by evening. They die, unnoticed.
21 Is not their tent-cord torn away in them? they die, and without wisdom.
They are like tent ropes that are pulled up, and they collapse in death. They die without wisdom.’
