Job 4
1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answers and says:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
2 “Has one tried a word with you? You are weary! And who is able to keep in words?
“If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Behold, you have instructed many, And feeble hands you make strong.
Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.
4 Your words raise up the stumbling one, And you strengthen bowing knees.
Your words have supported him who was falling, you have made the feeble knees firm.
5 But now, it comes to you, And you are weary; It strikes to you, and you are troubled.
But now it has come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.
6 Is your reverence not your confidence? Your hope—the perfection of your ways?
Isn’t your piety your confidence? Isn’t the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 Now remember, Who, being innocent, has perished? And where have the upright been cut off?
“Remember, now, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
8 As I have seen—plowers of iniquity, And sowers of misery, reap it!
According to what I have seen, those who plough iniquity and sow trouble, reap the same.
9 From the breath of God they perish, And from the spirit of His anger [are] consumed.
By the breath of God they perish. By the blast of his anger are they consumed.
10 The roaring of a lion, And the voice of a fierce lion, And teeth of young lions have been broken.
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
11 An old lion is perishing without prey, And the whelps of the lioness separate.
The old lion perishes for lack of prey. The cubs of the lioness are scattered abroad.
12 And a thing is secretly brought to me, And my ear receives a little of it.
“Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a whisper of it.
13 In thoughts from visions of the night, In the falling of deep sleep on men,
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,
14 Fear has met me, and trembling, And the multitude of my bones caused to fear.
fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.
15 And a spirit passes before my face, The hair of my flesh stands up;
Then a spirit passed before my face. The hair of my flesh stood up.
16 It stands, and I do not discern its aspect, A likeness [is] before my eyes, Silence! And I hear a voice:
It stood still, but I couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,
17 Is mortal man more righteous than God? Is a man cleaner than his Maker?
‘Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 Behold, He puts no credence in His servants, Nor sets praise in His messengers.
Behold, he puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.
19 Also—the inhabitants of houses of clay (Whose foundation [is] in the dust, They bruise them before a moth).
How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!
20 From morning to evening are beaten down, Without any regarding, they perish forever.
Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding it.
21 Has their excellence not been removed with them? They die, and not in wisdom!”
Isn’t their tent cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.’
