Job 4

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2 If we assay to commune with you, will you be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?

3 Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands.

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

4 Your words have upheld him that was falling, and you have strengthened the feeble knees.

Thy words have upholden him that was stumbling, and thou hast braced up the bending knees:

5 But now it is come on you, and you faint; it touches you, and you are troubled.

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

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

Hath not thy piety been thy confidence, and the perfection of thy ways thy hope?

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

Remember, I pray thee, who that was innocent has perished? and where were the upright cut off?

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

Even as I have seen, they that plough iniquity and sow mischief, reap the same.

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

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

10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

The roar of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken;

11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.

The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.

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

Now to me a word was secretly brought, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.

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

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

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

Fear came on me, and trembling, and made all my bones to shake;

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

And a spirit passed before my face — the hair of my flesh stood up —

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

It stood still; I could not discern the appearance thereof: a form was before mine eyes; I heard a slight murmur and a voice:

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

Shall [mortal] man be more just than God? Shall a man be purer than his Maker?

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

Lo, he trusteth not his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly:

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

How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed as the moth!

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

From morning to evening are they smitten: without any heeding it, they perish for ever.

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

Is not their tent-cord torn away in them? they die, and without wisdom.