Job 4
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, and sayde,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered Job.
2 If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieued? but who can withholde himselfe from speaking?
“Could I say a word? I don't want to upset you but who could keep quiet and not respond?
3 Behold, thou hast taught many, and hast strengthened the wearie hands.
You've certainly encouraged many people and supported those who are weak.
4 Thy wordes haue confirmed him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the weake knees.
Your advice has helped those who are stumbling not to fall, and you have strengthened those whose knees are weak.
5 But now it is come vpon thee, and thou art grieued: it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
But now you're the one suffering and you're upset.
6 Is not this thy feare, thy confidence, thy pacience, and the vprightnesse of thy wayes?
Wasn't it your reverence for God that gave you confidence and your integrity that gave you hope?
7 Remember, I pray thee: who euer perished, being an innocent? or where were the vpright destroyed?
Think about it: since when did the innocent die? Since when were good people destroyed?
8 As I haue seene, they that plow iniquitie, and sowe wickednesse, reape the same.
From what I've seen it's those who plant evil and sow trouble who reap the same!
9 With the blast of God they perish, and with the breath of his nostrels are they cosumed.
A breath from God destroys them; a blast of his anger wipes them out.
10 The roaring of the Lion, and the voyce of the Lionesse, and the teeth of the Lions whelpes are broken.
Lions may roar and growl, but their teeth still break.
11 The Lyon perisheth for lacke of pray, and the Lyons whelpes are scattered abroade.
Even a lion dies from lack of food, and the lioness' cubs are scattered.
12 But a thing was brought to me secretly, and mine eare hath receiued a litle thereof.
A word quietly crept up on me; a whisper reached my ear.
13 In the thoughtes of ye visions of the night, when sleepe falleth on men,
Troubling thoughts came to me in nightmares when you fall into a deep sleep.
14 Feare came vpon me, and dread which made all my bones to tremble.
I became terrified and trembled; all my bones were shaking.
15 And the wind passed before me, and made the heares of my flesh to stande vp.
Then a breath brushed my face and gave me goose-pimples.
16 Then stoode one, and I knewe not his face: an image was before mine eyes, and in silence heard I a voyce, saying,
Something stopped, but I couldn't see its face. My eyes could only make out a shape. It was totally quiet, and then I heard a voice:
17 Shall man be more iust then God? or shall a man be more pure then his maker?
‘Can anyone be right before God? Can anyone be pure before their Maker?
18 Beholde, he founde no stedfastnesse in his Seruants, and laid follie vpon his Angels.
If he doesn't even trust his servants, and he says his angels make mistakes,
19 Howe much more in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which shalbe destroyed before the moth?
how much more does this apply to those who live in these houses made of clay, whose foundations are based on dust, who fall apart like clothing to a moth?
20 They be destroyed from the morning vnto the euening: they perish for euer, without regarde.
Alive in the morning, they are dead by evening. They die, unnoticed.
21 Doeth not their dignitie goe away with them? do they not die, and that without wisdom?
They are like tent ropes that are pulled up, and they collapse in death. They die without wisdom.’
