< Job 4 >
1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 If one venture a word unto thee, wilt thou be weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou art weary; it toucheth thee, and thou art affrighted.
But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
6 Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, and thy hope the integrity 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 where were the upright cut off?
Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
8 According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow mischief, reap the same.
Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger are they consumed.
By the blast of Eloah they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
10 The lion roareth, and the fierce lion howleth — yet the teeth of the young 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 old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.
The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.
12 Now a word was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.
13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were made to shake.
Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face, that made the hair of my flesh to stand up.
Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
16 It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; a form was before mine eyes; I heard a still voice:
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 mortal man be just before God? Shall a man be pure before his Maker?
Shall mortal man be more just than Eloah? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
18 Behold, He putteth no trust in His servants, and His angels He chargeth with folly;
Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
19 How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before 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 Betwixt morning and evening they are shattered; they perish for ever without any regarding it.
They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.
21 Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.'
Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.