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Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

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

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

But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

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

Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils 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 stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.

12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little 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 a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:

16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and 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 put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:

19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?

20 They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.

21 Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.

Eliphaz Speaks: The Innocent Prosper

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

“If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient?
    Yet who can keep from speaking?
Behold, you have instructed many,
    and you have (A)strengthened the weak hands.
Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,
    and you have (B)made firm the feeble knees.
But now it has come to you, and you are impatient;
    it touches you, and you are dismayed.
(C)Is not your fear of God[a] your (D)confidence,
    and the integrity of your ways your hope?

“Remember: (E)who that was innocent ever perished?
    Or where were the upright cut off?
As I have seen, those who (F)plow iniquity
    and sow trouble reap the same.
By (G)the breath of God they perish,
    and by (H)the blast of his anger they are consumed.
10 The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion,
    (I)the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 The strong lion perishes for lack of prey,
    and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

12 “Now a word was brought to me stealthily;
    my ear received (J)the whisper of it.
13 Amid (K)thoughts from (L)visions of the night,
    when (M)deep sleep falls on men,
14 dread came upon me, and trembling,
    which made all my bones shake.
15 A spirit glided past my face;
    the hair of my flesh stood up.
16 It stood still,
    but I could not discern its appearance.
(N)A form was before my eyes;
    there was silence, then I heard (O)a voice:
17 (P)‘Can mortal man be in the right before[b] God?
    Can a man be pure before his Maker?
18 Even in his servants (Q)he puts no trust,
    and his angels he charges with error;
19 how much more those who dwell in houses of (R)clay,
    whose foundation is in (S)the dust,
    who are crushed like[c] (T)the moth.
20 Between (U)morning and evening they are beaten to pieces;
    they perish forever (V)without anyone regarding it.
21 Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them,
    (W)do they not die, and that without wisdom?’

Footnotes

  1. Job 4:6 Hebrew lacks of God
  2. Job 4:17 Or more than; twice in this verse
  3. Job 4:19 Or before

Éliphaz de Théman prit la parole et dit:

Si nous osons ouvrir la bouche, en seras-tu peiné? Mais qui pourrait garder le silence?

Voici, tu as souvent enseigné les autres, Tu as fortifié les mains languissantes,

Tes paroles ont relevé ceux qui chancelaient, Tu as affermi les genoux qui pliaient.

Et maintenant qu'il s'agit de toi, tu faiblis! Maintenant que tu es atteint, tu te troubles!

Ta crainte de Dieu n'est-elle pas ton soutien? Ton espérance, n'est-ce pas ton intégrité?

Cherche dans ton souvenir: quel est l'innocent qui a péri? Quels sont les justes qui ont été exterminés?

Pour moi, je l'ai vu, ceux qui labourent l'iniquité Et qui sèment l'injustice en moissonnent les fruits;

Ils périssent par le souffle de Dieu, Ils sont consumés par le vent de sa colère,

10 Le rugissement des lions prend fin, Les dents des lionceaux sont brisées;

11 Le lion périt faute de proie, Et les petits de la lionne se dispersent.

12 Une parole est arrivée furtivement jusqu'à moi, Et mon oreille en a recueilli les sons légers.

13 Au moment où les visions de la nuit agitent la pensée, Quand les hommes sont livrés à un profond sommeil,

14 Je fus saisi de frayeur et d'épouvante, Et tous mes os tremblèrent.

15 Un esprit passa près de moi... Tous mes cheveux se hérissèrent...

16 Une figure d'un aspect inconnu était devant mes yeux, Et j'entendis une voix qui murmurait doucement:

17 L'homme serait-il juste devant Dieu? Serait-il pur devant celui qui l'a fait?

18 Si Dieu n'a pas confiance en ses serviteurs, S'il trouve de la folie chez ses anges,

19 Combien plus chez ceux qui habitent des maisons d'argile, Qui tirent leur origine de la poussière, Et qui peuvent être écrasés comme un vermisseau!

20 Du matin au soir ils sont brisés, Ils périssent pour toujours, et nul n'y prend garde;

21 Le fil de leur vie est coupé, Ils meurent, et ils n'ont pas acquis la sagesse.

Eliphaz

Then Eliphaz the Temanite(A) replied:

“If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient?
    But who can keep from speaking?(B)
Think how you have instructed many,(C)
    how you have strengthened feeble hands.(D)
Your words have supported those who stumbled;(E)
    you have strengthened faltering knees.(F)
But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged;(G)
    it strikes(H) you, and you are dismayed.(I)
Should not your piety be your confidence(J)
    and your blameless(K) ways your hope?

“Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished?(L)
    Where were the upright ever destroyed?(M)
As I have observed,(N) those who plow evil(O)
    and those who sow trouble reap it.(P)
At the breath of God(Q) they perish;
    at the blast of his anger they are no more.(R)
10 The lions may roar(S) and growl,
    yet the teeth of the great lions(T) are broken.(U)
11 The lion perishes for lack of prey,(V)
    and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.(W)

12 “A word(X) was secretly brought to me,
    my ears caught a whisper(Y) of it.(Z)
13 Amid disquieting dreams in the night,
    when deep sleep falls on people,(AA)
14 fear and trembling(AB) seized me
    and made all my bones shake.(AC)
15 A spirit glided past my face,
    and the hair on my body stood on end.(AD)
16 It stopped,
    but I could not tell what it was.
A form stood before my eyes,
    and I heard a hushed voice:(AE)
17 ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?(AF)
    Can even a strong man be more pure than his Maker?(AG)
18 If God places no trust in his servants,(AH)
    if he charges his angels with error,(AI)
19 how much more those who live in houses of clay,(AJ)
    whose foundations(AK) are in the dust,(AL)
    who are crushed(AM) more readily than a moth!(AN)
20 Between dawn and dusk they are broken to pieces;
    unnoticed, they perish forever.(AO)
21 Are not the cords of their tent pulled up,(AP)
    so that they die(AQ) without wisdom?’(AR)

Eliphaz: Job Has Sinned

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary?
But who can withhold himself from speaking?
Surely you have instructed many,
And you (A)have strengthened weak hands.
Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,
And you (B)have strengthened the [a]feeble knees;
But now it comes upon you, and you are weary;
It touches you, and you are troubled.
Is not (C)your reverence (D)your confidence?
And the integrity of your ways your hope?

“Remember now, (E)who ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright ever cut off?
Even as I have seen,
(F)Those who plow iniquity
And sow trouble reap the same.
By the blast of God they perish,
And by the breath of His anger they are consumed.
10 The roaring of the lion,
The voice of the fierce lion,
And (G)the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 (H)The old lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

12 “Now a word was secretly brought to me,
And my ear received a whisper of it.
13 (I)In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night,
When deep sleep falls on men,
14 Fear came upon me, and (J)trembling,
Which made all my bones shake.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face;
The hair on my body stood up.
16 It stood still,
But I could not discern its appearance.
A form was before my eyes;
There was silence;
Then I heard a voice saying:
17 ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?
Can a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 If He (K)puts no trust in His servants,
If 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 a moth?
20 (L)They are broken in pieces from morning till evening;
They perish forever, with no one regarding.
21 Does not their own excellence go away?
They die, even without wisdom.’

Footnotes

  1. Job 4:4 Lit. bending