Job 4

1 Then Eliphaz the Themanite answered, and said:

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2 If we begin to speak to thee, perhaps thou wilt take it ill, but who can withhold the words he hath conceived?

If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

3 Behold thou hast taught many, and thou hast strengthened the weary hands:

Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

4 Thy words have confirmed them that were staggering, and thou hast strengthened the trembling knees:

Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

5 But now the scourge is come upon thee, and thou faintest: it hath touched thee, and thou art troubled.

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

6 Where is thy fear, thy fortitude, thy patience, and the perfection of thy ways?

Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent? or when were the just destroyed?

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

8 On the contrary I have seen those who work iniquity, and sow sorrows, and reap them,

Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

9 Perishing by the blast of God, and consumed by the spirit of his wrath.

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

10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the teeth of the whelps of 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 tiger hath perished for want of prey, and the young lions are scattered abroad.

The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.

12 Now there was a word spoken to me in private, and my ears by stealth as it were received the veins of its whisper.

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.

13 In the horror of a vision by night, when deep sleep is wont to hold men,

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

14 Fear seized upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were affrighted:

Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

15 And when a spirit passed before me, the hair of my flesh stood up.

Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:

16 There stood one whose countenance I knew not, an image before my eyes, and I heard the voice as it were of a gentle wind:

It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

17 Shall man be justified in comparison of God, or shall a man be more pure than his maker?

Shall mortal man be more just than Eloah? shall a man be more pure than his maker?

18 Behold they that serve him are not steadfast, and in his angels he found wickedness:

Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:

19 How much more shall they that dwell in houses of clay, who have an earthly foundation, be consumed as with the moth?

How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?

20 From morning till evening they shall be cut down: and because no one understandeth, they shall perish for ever.

They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.

21 And they that shall be left, shall be taken away from them: they shall die, and not in wisdom.

Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.