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 anyone tries to speak with you, will you be impatient? But who can stop himself from speaking?

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

See, you have instructed many; you have strengthened weak hands.

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

Your words have supported him who was falling; you have made feeble knees firm.

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

But now trouble has come to you, and you are weary; it touches you, and you are troubled.

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

Is not your fear your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?

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

Think about this, please: Who has ever perished when innocent? Or when were the upright people ever cut off?

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

According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap it.

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

By the breath of God they perish; by the blast of his anger 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, the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions—they are broken.

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

The old lion perishes for lack of victims; the cubs of the lioness are scattered everywhere.

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

Now a certain matter was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper about it.

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

Then came thoughts from visions in the night, when deep sleep falls on people.

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

It was at night when fear and trembling came upon me, and all my bones shook.

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

Then a spirit passed before my face, and 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:

The spirit stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, and I heard a voice that said,

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

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

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

See, if God puts no trust in his servants; if he accuses his angels of 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 more is this true of those who live in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed sooner than a moth?

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

Between morning and evening they are destroyed; they perish forever without anyone noticing them.

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

Are not their tent cords plucked up among them? They die; they die without wisdom.