Job 4
1 Then spake Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 If one attempt a word with thee, wilt thou be offended? But who can refrain from speaking?
If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?
3 Behold, thou hast admonished many; Thou hast strengthened feeble hands;
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;
4 Thy words have upheld him that was falling, And thou hast given strength to feeble knees.
Thy words have upholden him that was stumbling, and thou hast braced up the bending knees:
5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; It toucheth thee, and thou art confounded!
But now it is come upon thee, and thou grievest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
6 Is not thy fear of God thy hope, And the uprightness of thy ways thy confidence?
Hath not thy piety been thy confidence, and the perfection of thy ways thy hope?
7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent? Or where have the righteous been cut off?
Remember, I pray thee, who that was innocent has perished? and where were the upright cut off?
8 According to what I have seen, they who plough iniquity, And sow mischief, 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 they are 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 fierce 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 are scattered.
12 A word was once secretly brought to me, And mine ear caught a whisper thereof.
Now to me a word was secretly brought, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
13 Amid thoughts from visions of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men,
In thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men: —
14 A fear and a horror came upon me, 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 rose on end;
And a spirit passed before my face — the hair of my flesh stood up —
16 It stood still, but its form I could not discern; An image was before mine eyes; There was silence, and I heard a voice:
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 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 putteth no trust in his ministering spirits, And his angels he chargeth with frailty.
Lo, he trusteth not his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly:
19 What then are they who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who crumble to pieces, as if moth-eaten!
How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed as the moth!
20 Between morning and evening are they destroyed; They perish for ever, and none regardeth it.
From morning to evening are they smitten: without any heeding it, they perish for ever.
21 The excellency that is in them is torn away; They die before they have become wise.”
Is not their tent-cord torn away in them? they die, and without wisdom.
