Job 4

1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

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

If anyone tries to speak with you, will you be impatient? But who can stop himself from speaking?

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

See, you have instructed many; you have strengthened weak hands.

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

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

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

But now trouble has come to you, and you are weary; it touches you, and you are troubled.

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

Is not your fear your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?

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

Think about this, please: Who has ever perished when innocent? Or when were the upright people ever cut off?

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

According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap it.

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

By the breath of God they perish; by the blast of his anger 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, the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions—they are broken.

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

The old lion perishes for lack of victims; the cubs of the lioness are scattered everywhere.

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

Now a certain matter was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper about it.

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

Then came thoughts from visions in the night, when deep sleep falls on people.

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

It was at night when fear and trembling came upon me, and all my bones shook.

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

Then a spirit passed before my face, and the hair of my flesh stood up.

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],

The spirit stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, and I heard a voice that said,

17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?

“Can a mortal man be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?

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

See, if God puts no trust in his servants; if he accuses his angels of folly,

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

how much more is this true of those who live in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed sooner than a moth?

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

Between morning and evening they are destroyed; they perish forever without anyone noticing them.

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

Are not their tent cords plucked up among them? They die; they die without wisdom.