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Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

“If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved?
    But who can withhold himself from speaking?
Behold, you have instructed many,
    you have strengthened the weak hands.
Your words have supported him who was falling,
    You have made the feeble knees firm.
But now it has come to you, and you faint.
    It touches you, and you are troubled.
Isn’t your piety your confidence?
    Isn’t the integrity of your ways your hope?

“Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent?
    Or where were the upright cut off?
According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity,
    and sow trouble,
    reap the same.
By the breath of God they perish.
    By the blast of his anger are they consumed.
10 The roaring of the lion,
    and the voice of the fierce lion,
    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.

12 “Now a thing was secretly brought to me.
    My ear received a whisper of it.
13 In thoughts from the visions of the night,
    when deep sleep falls on men,
14 fear came on me, and trembling,
    which made all my bones shake.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face.
    The hair of my flesh stood up.
16 It stood still, but I couldn’t discern its appearance.
    A form was before my eyes.
    Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,
17 ‘Shall mortal man be more just than God?
    Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 Behold, he puts no trust in his servants.
    He charges his angels with error.
19 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 destroyed.
    They perish forever without any regarding it.
21 Isn’t their tent cord plucked up within them?
    They die, and that without wisdom.’

Eliphaz Says the Innocent Do Not Suffer

Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

“If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient?
But (A)who can refrain [a]from speaking?
Behold, (B)you have taught many,
And you have strengthened weak hands.
Your words have helped the stumbling to stand,
And you have strengthened [b]feeble knees.
But now it comes to you, and you (C)are impatient;
It (D)touches you, and you are horrified.
Is your [c](E)fear of God not (F)your confidence,
And the integrity of your ways your hope?

“Remember now, (G)who ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright destroyed?
According to what I have seen, (H)those who [d]plow wrongdoing
And those who sow trouble harvest it.
By (I)the breath of God they perish,
And (J)by the [e]blast of His anger they come to an end.
10 The (K)roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion,
And the teeth of the young lions are broken out.
11 The (L)lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the (M)cubs of the lioness are scattered.

12 “Now a word (N)was brought to me secretly,
And my ear received a (O)whisper of it.
13 Amid disquieting (P)thoughts from visions of the night,
When deep sleep falls on people,
14 Dread came upon me, and trembling,
And made [f]all my bones shake.
15 Then a [g]spirit passed by my face;
The hair of my flesh stood up.
16 Something was standing still, but I could not recognize its appearance;
A form was before my eyes;
There was silence, then I heard a voice:
17 ‘Can (Q)mankind be righteous [h]before God?
Can a man be pure [i]before his (R)Maker?
18 (S)He puts no trust even in His servants;
And He accuses His angels of error.
19 How much more those who live in (T)houses of clay,
Whose (U)foundation is in the dust,
Who are crushed before the moth!
20 (V)Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces;
Unregarded, they (W)perish forever.
21 Is their (X)tent-cord not pulled out within them?
They die, yet (Y)without wisdom.’

Footnotes

  1. Job 4:2 Lit in words
  2. Job 4:4 Lit knees giving way
  3. Job 4:6 Or reverence for
  4. Job 4:8 I.e., devise
  5. Job 4:9 Lit wind
  6. Job 4:14 Lit the multitude of
  7. Job 4:15 Or wind passed over
  8. Job 4:17 Lit from
  9. Job 4:17 Lit from