Job 4

1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: —

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered Job.

2 Hath one tried a word with thee? — Thou art weary! And to keep in words who is able?

“Could I say a word? I don't want to upset you but who could keep quiet and not respond?

3 Lo, thou hast instructed many, And feeble hands thou makest strong.

You've certainly encouraged many people and supported those who are weak.

4 The stumbling one do thy words raise up, And bowing knees thou dost strengthen.

Your advice has helped those who are stumbling not to fall, and you have strengthened those whose knees are weak.

5 But now, it cometh in unto thee, And thou art weary; It striketh unto thee, and thou art troubled.

But now you're the one suffering and you're upset.

6 Is not thy reverence thy confidence? Thy hope — the perfection of thy ways?

Wasn't it your reverence for God that gave you confidence and your integrity that gave you hope?

7 Remember, I pray thee, Who, being innocent, hath perished? And where have the upright been cut off?

Think about it: since when did the innocent die? Since when were good people destroyed?

8 As I have seen — ploughers of iniquity, And sowers of misery, reap it!

From what I've seen it's those who plant evil and sow trouble who reap the same!

9 From the breath of God they perish, And from the spirit of His anger consumed.

A breath from God destroys them; a blast of his anger wipes them out.

10 The roaring of a lion, And the voice of a fierce lion, And teeth of young lions have been broken.

Lions may roar and growl, but their teeth still break.

11 An old lion is perishing without prey, And the whelps of the lioness do separate.

Even a lion dies from lack of food, and the lioness' cubs are scattered.

12 And unto me a thing is secretly brought, And receive doth mine ear a little of it.

A word quietly crept up on me; a whisper reached my ear.

13 In thoughts from visions of the night, In the falling of deep sleep on men,

Troubling thoughts came to me in nightmares when you fall into a deep sleep.

14 Fear hath met me, and trembling, And the multitude of my bones caused to fear.

I became terrified and trembled; all my bones were shaking.

15 And a spirit before my face doth pass, Stand up doth the hair of my flesh;

Then a breath brushed my face and gave me goose-pimples.

16 It standeth, and I discern not its aspect, A similitude [is] over-against mine eyes, Silence! and a voice I hear:

Something stopped, but I couldn't see its face. My eyes could only make out a shape. It was totally quiet, and then I heard a voice:

17 'Is mortal man than God more righteous? Than his Maker is a man cleaner?

‘Can anyone be right before God? Can anyone be pure before their Maker?

18 Lo, in His servants He putteth no credence, Nor in His messengers setteth praise.'

If he doesn't even trust his servants, and he says his angels make mistakes,

19 Also — the inhabitants of houses of clay, (Whose foundation [is] in the dust, They bruise them before a moth.)

how much more does this apply to those who live in these houses made of clay, whose foundations are based on dust, who fall apart like clothing to a moth?

20 From morning to evening are beaten down, Without any regarding, for ever they perish.

Alive in the morning, they are dead by evening. They die, unnoticed.

21 Hath not their excellency been removed with them? They die, and not in wisdom!

They are like tent ropes that are pulled up, and they collapse in death. They die without wisdom.’