< Job 4 >

1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: —
2 If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?
Hath one tried a word with thee? — Thou art weary! And to keep in words who is able?
3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;
Lo, thou hast instructed many, And feeble hands thou makest strong.
4 Thy words have upholden him that was stumbling, and thou hast braced up the bending knees:
The stumbling one do thy words raise up, And bowing knees thou dost strengthen.
5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou grievest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
But now, it cometh in unto thee, And thou art weary; It striketh unto thee, and thou art troubled.
6 Hath not thy piety been thy confidence, and the perfection of thy ways thy hope?
Is not thy reverence thy confidence? Thy hope — the perfection 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, being innocent, hath perished? And where have the upright been cut off?
8 Even as I have seen, they that plough iniquity and sow mischief, reap the same.
As I have seen — ploughers of iniquity, And sowers of misery, reap it!
9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his nostrils are they consumed.
From the breath of God they perish, And from the spirit of His anger 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 a lion, And the voice of a fierce lion, And teeth of young lions have been broken.
11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
An old lion is perishing without prey, And the whelps of the lioness do separate.
12 Now to me a word was secretly brought, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
And unto me a thing is secretly brought, And receive doth mine ear a little of it.
13 In thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men: —
In thoughts from visions of the night, In the falling of deep sleep on men,
14 Fear came on me, and trembling, and made all my bones to shake;
Fear hath met me, and trembling, And the multitude of my bones caused to fear.
15 And a spirit passed before my face — the hair of my flesh stood up —
And a spirit before my face doth pass, Stand up doth the hair of my flesh;
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 standeth, and I discern not its aspect, A similitude [is] over-against mine eyes, Silence! and a voice I hear:
17 Shall [mortal] man be more just than God? Shall a man be purer than his Maker?
'Is mortal man than God more righteous? Than his Maker is a man cleaner?
18 Lo, he trusteth not his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly:
Lo, in His servants He putteth no credence, Nor in His messengers setteth praise.'
19 How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed as the moth!
Also — the inhabitants of houses of clay, (Whose foundation [is] in the dust, They bruise them before a moth.)
20 From morning to evening are they smitten: without any heeding it, they perish for ever.
From morning to evening are beaten down, Without any regarding, for ever they perish.
21 Is not their tent-cord torn away in them? they die, and without wisdom.
Hath not their excellency been removed with them? They die, and not in wisdom!

< Job 4 >