Job 4

1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

Then spake Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:

2 If one assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

If one attempt a word with thee, wilt thou be offended? But who can refrain from speaking?

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

Behold, thou hast admonished many; Thou hast strengthened feeble hands;

4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, And thou hast made firm the feeble knees.

Thy words have upheld him that was falling, And thou hast given strength to feeble knees.

5 But now it is come unto thee, and thou faintest; It toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; It toucheth thee, and thou art confounded!

6 Is not thy fear [of God] thy confidence, [And] the integrity of thy ways thy hope?

Is not thy fear of God thy hope, And the uprightness of thy ways thy confidence?

7 Remember, I pray thee, who [ever] perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent? Or where have the righteous been cut off?

8 According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, And sow trouble, reap the same.

According to what I have seen, they who plough iniquity, And sow mischief, reap the same.

9 By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of his anger are they consumed.

By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of his nostrils they are 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, And the teeth of the young lions are broken.

11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, And the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.

The fierce lion perisheth for lack of prey, And the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.

12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, And mine ear received a whisper thereof.

A word was once secretly brought to me, And mine ear caught a whisper thereof.

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

Amid thoughts from visions of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men,

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

A fear and a horror came upon me, Which made all my bones to 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 rose on end;

16 It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; A form was before mine eyes: [There was] silence, and I heard a voice, [saying],

It stood still, but its form I could not discern; An image was before mine eyes; There was silence, and I heard a voice:

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 man be more pure than his Maker?

18 Behold, he putteth no trust in his servants; And his angels he chargeth with folly:

Behold, he putteth no trust in his ministering spirits, And his angels he chargeth with frailty.

19 How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before the moth!

What then are they who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who crumble to pieces, as if moth-eaten!

20 Betwixt morning and evening they are destroyed: They perish for ever without any regarding it.

Between morning and evening are they destroyed; They perish for ever, and none regardeth it.

21 Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.

The excellency that is in them is torn away; They die before they have become wise.”