Job 4

1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

THEN Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

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

If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

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

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

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

Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

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

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

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

Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

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

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

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

Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

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

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

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

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

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

The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.

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

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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:

It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

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

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

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

Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:

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 less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?

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

They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.

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

Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.