Job 4

1 And Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2 If one says a word, will it be a weariness to you? but who is able to keep from saying what is in his mind?

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

3 Truly, you have been a helper to others, and you have made feeble hands strong;

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

4 He who was near to falling has been lifted up by your words, and you have given strength to bent knees.

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

5 But now it has come on you and it is a weariness to you; you are touched by it and your mind is troubled.

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

6 Is not your fear of God your support, and your upright way of life your hope?

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

7 Have you ever seen destruction come to an upright man? or when were the god-fearing ever cut off?

"Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?

8 What I have seen is that those by whom trouble has been ploughed, and evil planted, get the same for themselves.

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

9 By the breath of God destruction takes them, and by the wind of his wrath they are cut off.

By the breath of God they perish. By the blast of his anger are they consumed.

10 Though the noise of the lion and the sounding of his voice, may be loud, 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 comes to his end for need of food, and the young of the she-lion go wandering in all directions.

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

12 A word was given to me secretly, and the low sound of it came to my ears.

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

13 In troubled thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep comes on men,

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

14 Fear came on me and shaking, and my bones were full of trouble;

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

15 And a breath was moving over my face; the hair of my flesh became stiff:

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

16 Something was present before me, but I was not able to see it clearly; there was a form before my eyes: a quiet voice came to my ears, 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 May a man be upright before God? or a man be clean before his Maker?

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

18 Truly, he puts no faith in his servants, and he sees error in his angels;

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

19 How much more those living in houses of earth, whose bases are in the dust! They are crushed more quickly than an insect;

How much more, those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth.

20 Between morning and evening they are completely broken; they come to an end for ever, and no one takes note.

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

21 If their tent-cord is pulled up, do they not come to an end, and without wisdom?

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