Job 4
Lexham English Bible
Eliphaz’s First Response to Job
4 Then[a] Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 “If someone would test a word with you, would you be offended?
But[b] who can refrain from speaking?
3 Look, you have instructed many,
and you have strengthened weak hands.
4 Your words have raised up the one who stumbles,
and you have strengthened knees giving way.
5 But now it has come to you, and you are worn out;
it touches you, and you are horrified.
6 Is not your fear in God your confidence?
Is not your hope even[c] the integrity of your ways?
7 “Think[d] now, who has perished who is innocent?
Or[e] where are the upright destroyed?
8 Just as I have seen, plowers of mischief
and sowers of trouble will reap it.
9 By[f] the breath of God they perish,
and by[g] the blast of his anger they come to an end.
10 The roar of the lion and the voice of a lion in its prime,
and the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 The lion is perishing without[h] prey,
and the lion’s whelps are scattered.
12 “And a word came stealing to me,
and my ear received the whisper from it.
13 Amid troubling thoughts from night visions,
at the falling of deep sleep on men,
14 dread met me, and trembling,
and it made many of my bones shake.
15 And a spirit glided before my face;
the hair of my flesh[i] bristled.
16 It stood still, but[j] I could not recognize its appearance;
a form was before[k] my eyes;
there was a hush, and I heard a voice:
17 ‘Can a human being be more righteous than God,
or can a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 Look, he does not trust in his servants
and he charges his angels with error.
19 How much more dwellers in clay houses,
whose foundation is in the dust?
They are crushed like a moth.
20 Between morning and evening[l] they are destroyed;
without anyone regarding it they perish forever.
21 Is not their tent cord pulled up within them?
They die, but[m] not in[n] wisdom.’
Footnotes
- Job 4:1 Hebrew “And”
- Job 4:2 Hebrew “And”
- Job 4:6 Hebrew “and”
- Job 4:7 Literally “Remember”
- Job 4:7 Hebrew “And”
- Job 4:9 Or “From”
- Job 4:9 Or “from”
- Job 4:11 Or “from lack of”
- Job 4:15 Or “body”
- Job 4:16 Hebrew “and”
- Job 4:16 Literally “to before”
- Job 4:20 Literally “from morning to the evening”
- Job 4:21 Hebrew “and”
- Job 4:21 Or “with”
Job 4
American Standard Version
4 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,
2 If one assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved?
But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Behold, thou hast instructed many,
And thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling,
And thou hast made firm the [a]feeble knees.
5 But now it is come unto thee, and thou [b]faintest;
It toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
6 Is not thy fear of God thy confidence,
And the integrity of thy ways thy hope?
7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent?
Or where were the upright cut off?
8 According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity,
And sow [c]trouble, reap the same.
9 By the breath of God they perish,
And by the blast of his anger are they consumed.
10 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.
12 Now a thing was [d]secretly brought to me,
And mine ear received a whisper thereof.
13 In thoughts from the visions of the night,
When deep sleep falleth on men,
14 Fear came upon me, and trembling,
Which made all my bones to shake.
15 Then [e]a spirit passed before my face;
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:
[f]There was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
17 Shall mortal man [g]be more just than God?
Shall a man [h]be more pure than his Maker?
18 Behold, he putteth no trust in his servants;
And his angels he chargeth with folly:
19 How much more them that dwell in houses of clay,
Whose foundation is in the dust,
Who are crushed [i]before the moth!
20 [j]Betwixt morning and evening they are [k]destroyed:
They perish for ever without any regarding it.
21 [l]Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them?
They die, and that without wisdom.
Footnotes
- Job 4:4 Hebrew bowing
- Job 4:5 Or, art grieved
- Job 4:8 Or, mischief
- Job 4:12 Hebrew brought by stealth
- Job 4:15 Or, a breath passed over
- Job 4:16 Or, I heard a still voice
- Job 4:17 Or, be just before God
- Job 4:17 Or, be pure before his Maker
- Job 4:19 Or, like
- Job 4:20 Or, From morning to evening
- Job 4:20 Hebrew broken in pieces.
- Job 4:21 Or, Is not their excellency which is in them removed?
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)