Job 4

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2 [If] we essay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can refrain from speaking?

“If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

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

4 Thy words have upheld him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

Your words have supported him who was falling, you have made the feeble knees firm.

5 But now it hath come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

But now it has come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.

6 [Is] not [this] thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

Isn’t your piety your confidence? Isn’t the integrity of your ways your hope?

7 Remember, I pray thee, who [ever] perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off;

“Remember, now, 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 to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble, 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. 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 roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

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

The old lion perishes for lack of prey. The cubs of the lioness are scattered abroad.

12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a small sound of it.

“Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a whisper of it.

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

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

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

fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.

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

Then a spirit passed before my face. The hair of my flesh stood up.

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

It stood still, but I couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,

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 more pure than his Maker?

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

Behold, he puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.

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

How much more those who 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].

Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding it.

21 Doth not their excellence [which is] in them depart? they die, even without wisdom.

Isn’t their tent cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.’