Job 4
1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
Then answered Eliphaz the Themanite, and said,
2 If one venture a word unto thee, wilt thou be weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
If we essay to address a word to thee, wilt thou be wearied? yet who is able to refrain from speaking?
3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
Behold, thou hast [ere this] corrected many, and weak hands thou wast wont to strengthen.
4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
Him that stumbled thy words used to uphold, and to sinking knees thou gavest vigor.
5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou art weary; it toucheth thee, and thou art affrighted.
Yet now, when it cometh to thee, thou art wearied: it toucheth even thee, and thou art terrified.
6 Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, and thy hope the integrity of thy ways?
Is not then thy fear of God still thy confidence, thy hope equal to the integrity 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 destroyed?
8 According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow mischief, reap the same.
Even as I have seen, that those who plough wrong-doing, and sow trouble, have to reap the same.
9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger are they consumed.
Before the breathing of God they perish, and before the breath of his nostrils they come to their end.
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 whelps of the lioness have to scatter themselves abroad.
12 Now a word was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
But to me a word came by stealth, and my ear took in a scarcely perceptible whisper thereof.
13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
In intense thoughts out of 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.
Dread came over me, with trembling, and it caused all my bones to shudder.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face, that made the hair of my flesh to stand up.
Then flitted a spirit past before my face; the hair of my body 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 recognize its form; a figure was before my eyes, a slight whisper, then a [louder] voice I heard, saying,
17 'Shall mortal man be just before God? Shall a man be pure before his Maker?
Can a mortal be more righteous than God? or can 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, in his servants he putteth no trust, and his angels he chargeth 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 those that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed till they come to be eaten by the moth?
20 Betwixt morning and evening they are shattered; they perish for ever without any regarding it.
From morning to evening are they broken to pieces: without laying it [to heart] they perish for ever.
21 Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.'
Behold, their excellency which is in them is torn away: they die, and this without wisdom.
