Job 4

1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

Then answered Eliphaz the Themanite, and said,

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

If we essay to address a word to thee, wilt thou be wearied? yet who is able to refrain from speaking?

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

Behold, thou hast [ere this] corrected many, and weak hands thou wast wont to strengthen.

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

Him that stumbled thy words used to uphold, and to sinking knees thou gavest vigor.

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

Yet now, when it cometh to thee, thou art wearied: it toucheth even thee, and thou art terrified.

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

Is not then thy fear of God still thy confidence, thy hope equal to the integrity 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 destroyed?

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

Even as I have seen, that those who plough wrong-doing, and sow trouble, have to reap the same.

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

Before the breathing of God they perish, and before the breath of his nostrils they come to their end.

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 whelps of the lioness have to scatter themselves abroad.

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

But to me a word came by stealth, and my ear took in a scarcely perceptible whisper thereof.

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

In intense thoughts out of visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men:

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

Dread came over me, with trembling, and it caused all my bones to shudder.

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

Then flitted a spirit past before my face; the hair of my body 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 recognize its form; a figure was before my eyes, a slight whisper, then a [louder] voice I heard, saying,

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

Can a mortal be more righteous than God? or can a man be more pure than his Maker?

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

Behold, in his servants he putteth no trust, and his angels he chargeth 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 those that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed till they come to be eaten by the moth?

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

From morning to evening are they broken to pieces: without laying it [to heart] they perish for ever.

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

Behold, their excellency which is in them is torn away: they die, and this without wisdom.