Job 4

1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

Then spake Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:

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

If one attempt a word with thee, wilt thou be offended? But who can refrain from speaking?

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

Behold, thou hast admonished many; Thou hast strengthened feeble hands;

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

Thy words have upheld him that was falling, And thou hast given strength to 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 confounded!

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

Is not thy fear of God thy hope, And the uprightness of thy ways thy confidence?

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 have the righteous been cut off?

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

According to what I have seen, they who plough iniquity, And sow mischief, 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 they are 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 fierce lion perisheth for lack of prey, And the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.

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

A word was once secretly brought to me, And mine ear caught a whisper thereof.

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

Amid thoughts from visions of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men,

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

A fear and a horror came upon me, 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 rose on end;

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 its form I could not discern; An image was before mine eyes; There was silence, and I heard a voice:

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 man be more pure than his Maker?

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

Behold, he putteth no trust in his ministering spirits, And his angels he chargeth with frailty.

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

What then are they who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who crumble to pieces, as if moth-eaten!

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

Between morning and evening are they destroyed; They perish for ever, and none regardeth it.

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

The excellency that is in them is torn away; They die before they have become wise.”