Job 4
1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
2 If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?
“If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;
Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the 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 the feeble knees firm.
5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou grievest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
But now it has come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.
6 Hath not thy piety been thy confidence, and the perfection of thy ways thy hope?
Isn’t your piety your confidence? Isn’t 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?
“Remember, now, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright 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 the same.
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 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, 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 perishes for lack of prey. The cubs of the lioness 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. My ear received a whisper of it.
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 falls on men,
14 Fear came on me, and trembling, and made all my bones to shake;
fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones 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 couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then 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 puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.
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 those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the 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 any regarding it.
21 Is not their tent-cord torn away in them? they die, and without wisdom.
Isn’t their tent cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.’
