Job 4
1 Da gab ihm Eliphaz aus Teman also Antwort:
Then Eliphaz, from Teman, replied to Job. He said,
2 "Hat man vor dich zur Prüfung je ein Ding gebracht, worüber du den Mut verloren hättest? Wer konnte je den Worten Einhalt tun?
“Will you please let me say something to you? I am not [RHQ] able to remain silent [any longer].
3 Fürwahr, so viele hast du selbst belehrt, so manchen schwachen Arm gestählt.
In the past, you have instructed/taught many people, and you have encouraged those who were weak.
4 Den Strauchelnden hielt aufrecht deine Rede; die müden Kniee stärktest du.
By what you said, you have helped those who (needed spiritual help/almost quit trusting in God) [MET], and you have enabled them to become spiritually strong again [MET].
5 Jetzt kommt's an dich, da wirst du mutlos; wo dich's erfaßt, verzweifelst du.
But now, when you experience disasters, you become discouraged. The disasters hit you, and you are stunned.
6 War deine Gottesfurcht nicht dein Vertrauen, und dein unsträflich Leben deine Hoffnung?
You revere God; (does that not cause you to trust [in him]?/that should cause you to trust [in him].) [RHQ] If you were guiltless, you would [RHQ] be confident that [God] would not [have allowed] these disasters [to] happen to you!
7 Bedenke nur: Wer kommt je schuldlos um? Wo gehen Redliche zugrunde?
Think about this: Do innocent people die [while they are still young] [RHQ]? Does God get rid of godly people [RHQ]? [No!]
8 Die Unrecht pflügen, Böses säen, die ernten's auch. So weiß ich es.
What I have experienced is this: [Just as] [MET] farmers who plant bad [seeds] do not harvest good [crops], [just as those who start] trouble for others, later bring trouble on themselves.
9 Durch Gottes Odem gehen sie zugrunde; durch seinen Zornhauch sterben sie.
They die when God angrily blows his breath on them, when he is very angry with them.
10 Der Löwen Stimmen selber, das Gebrüll der Leuen, der jungen Löwen Zähne werden ausgetilgt.
[Even though wicked people may be very powerful like] young lions, [God] will get rid of them [MET].
11 Der Löwe geht zugrunde aus Beutemangel; der Löwin Junge müssen sich zerstreuen.
[They will die like] fierce lions [that] starve to death when there are no animals that they can kill and eat, and [their children will be separated from each other like] young lions separate from each other [to find food].”
12 Zu mir drang ein verstohlen Wort; mein Ohr vernahm davon nur ein Geflüster.
“I heard a message that someone came and whispered to me.
13 Im Wundertraum, bei Nachtgesichten, wenn Tiefschlaf auf die Menschen fällt,
He spoke to me at night when I was having a bad dream that disturbed/frightened me while I was fast asleep.
14 da fuhr in mich ein Schrecken und ein Zittern, und Angst ließ mein Gebein erbeben.
It caused me to be afraid and tremble; it caused all my bones to shake.
15 Und über meinen Rücken lief es kalt; ein Schauder schüttelt' meinen Leib.
A ghost glided past my face and caused the hair on [on the back of] my neck to stand straight up.
16 Das Unbekannte stand vor mir; vor meinem Auge schwebte her ein Schatten. - Ein Säuseln hörte ich und eine Stimme:
It stopped, but I could not see what form it had. But [I could sense that] there was some being in front of me, and it said in a quiet voice,
17 'Ist gegen Gott ein Mensch gerecht; vor seinem Schöpfer einer rein?'
‘(Does God consider anyone to be righteous?/No human beings can be righteous in God’s sight!) [RHQ] (Their creator cannot consider them to be pure./Can their creator consider them to be pure?) [RHQ]
18 Er traut dies seinen Dienern selbst nicht zu, und seinen Engeln flößt er Schrecken ein.
God cannot be sure that his own angels [will always do what is right]; he declares that some of them have done what is wrong.
19 Nun vollends gar der Lehmhausmensch, der Sterbliche, aus Staub gebaut, noch leichter als die Motten zu zerdrücken!
So he certainly cannot trust human beings who were made from dust and clay, who are crushed as easily as moths are crushed!
20 Vom Morgen bis zum Abend werden sie vernichtet; unwiderruflich gehen sie zugrunde.
People are sometimes well in the morning, but in the evening they are dead. They are gone forever and do not even know it (OR, and no one pays any attention to it).
21 Ja, wird denn nicht ihr Vorzug ihnen weggenommen? Durch Unvernunft nur sterben sie."
They are like [MET] tents that collapse [suddenly]: They die [suddenly] before they become wise.’”
