< Job 4 >

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
2 If we assay to commune with you, will you be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
If one venture a word unto thee, wilt thou be weary? But who can withhold himself 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 falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble 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 art weary; it toucheth thee, and thou art affrighted.
6 Is not this your fear, your confidence, your hope, and the uprightness of your ways?
Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, and thy hope the integrity of thy ways?
7 Remember, I pray you, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
According as I have seen, they that plow 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 anger 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 lion roareth, and the fierce lion howleth — yet 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 abroad.
12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a little thereof.
Now a word was secretly brought to me, 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 the 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 upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were made to shake.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
Then a spirit passed before my face, that made the hair of my flesh to stand 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, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; a form was before mine eyes; I heard a still voice:
17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
'Shall mortal man be just before God? Shall a man be pure before his Maker?
18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
Behold, He putteth no trust in 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 before the moth!
20 They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.
Betwixt morning and evening they are shattered; they perish for ever without any regarding it.
21 Does not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.
Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.'

< Job 4 >