Job 4

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:

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

If one venture a word unto thee, wilt thou be weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

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

Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

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

Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

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

But now it is come upon thee, and thou art weary; it toucheth thee, and thou art affrighted.

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

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

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

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

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

According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow mischief, reap the same.

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

By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger are they consumed.

10 The roaring of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions—they are broken.

The lion roareth, and the fierce lion howleth — yet the teeth of the young lions are broken.

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

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

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

Now a word was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.

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

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

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

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

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

Then a spirit passed before my face, that made the hair of my flesh to stand up.

16 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,

It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; a form was before mine eyes; I heard a still voice:

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

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

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

Behold, He putteth no trust in His servants, and His angels He chargeth with folly;

19 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?

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

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

Betwixt morning and evening they are shattered; they perish for ever without any regarding it.

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

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