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

Nagsalita si Elifaz

Nagsalita si Elifaz na taga-Teman. Sinabi niya, “Magagalit ka ba kung magsasalita ako? Hindi ko na kayang manahimik. Noon, pinapayuhan mo ang maraming tao na magtiwala sa Dios, at pinalalakas ang mahihina at nanlulupaypay. Ang mga salita moʼy nagpalakas sa kanila at umalalay sa mga nanghihina. Pero ngayong ikaw na ang dumaranas ng kahirapan, tila ikaw ang nanghihina at naguguluhan. Hindi baʼt kapag may takot ka sa Dios at namumuhay ka ng matuwid, magdudulot ito sa iyo ng tiwalaʼt pag-asa?

“Ngayon, isipin mong mabuti. May tao bang matuwid at walang kasalanan na napahamak? Ayon sa aking nakitaʼt nalaman, ang mga taong gumagawa ng kasamaan at kaguluhan, kasamaan at kaguluhan din ang kanilang kahahantungan. Sa isang bugso lamang ng galit ng Dios, mapapahamak sila. 10 Kahit na silaʼy tulad ng malakas at mabangis na leon, tatanggalin pa rin ang kanilang mga ngipin. 11 Mamamatay sila dahil sa gutom at ang mga anak nila ay mangangalat.

12 “May sinabi sa akin nang palihim. Ibinulong ito sa akin 13 sa pamamagitan ng panaginip. Gabi iyon habang ang mga taoʼy mahimbing na natutulog. 14 Natakot ako at nanginig ang buo kong katawan. 15 May espiritu na dumaan sa aking harap[a] at tumayo ang mga balahibo ko at kinilabutan ako. 16 Huminto ito, pero hindi ko gaanong maaninag. At may narinig akong mahinang tinig na nagsasabi, 17 ‘Mayroon bang taong matuwid o malinis sa paningin ng Dios na kanyang Manlilikha? 18 Kung mismong sa mga anghel na lingkod niya ay hindi siya lubusang nagtitiwala, at nakakakita siya ng kamalian nila, 19 di lalo na sa taong nilikha lamang mula sa lupa, na madaling pisain katulad ng gamo-gamo! 20 Ang taoʼy maaaring buhay pa sa umaga pero kinagabihaʼy patay na at hindi na makikita magpakailanman. 21 Para silang mga toldang bumagsak. Namatay sila nang kulang sa karunungan.’

Footnotes

  1. 4:15 May espiritu na dumaan sa aking harap: o, Umihip ang hangin sa mukha ko.