Job 4

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

Then spake Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:

2 “If someone ventures to talk with you, will you 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, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.

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

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

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

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

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

6 Isn’t your piety your confidence? Isn’t the integrity of your ways your hope?

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

7 “Remember, now, 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 to what I have seen, those who 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. 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, 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 perishes for lack of prey. The cubs 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. My ear received a whisper of it.

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 falls on men,

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

14 fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones 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 couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then 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 puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.

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

19 How much more those who 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 Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding it.

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

21 Isn’t 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.”