Job 4
Complete Jewish Bible
4 Then Elifaz the Teimani spoke up:
2 “If one tries to speak to you, will you mind?
Yet who could keep from speaking?
3 You have given moral instruction to many,
you have firmed up feeble hands,
4 your words have supported those who were stumbling,
and you have strengthened the weak-kneed.
5 “But now it comes to you, and you are impatient;
at the first touch, you are in shock.
6 Isn’t your fear of God your assurance,
and the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 “Think back: what innocent person has perished?
Since when are the upright destroyed?
8 What I see is that those who plow sin
and sow trouble reap just that.
9 At a breath from God, they perish;
at a blast from his anger, they are consumed.
10 The lion may growl, the king lion may roar,
but that old lion’s teeth are broken;
11 so the lion succumbs from lack of prey,
and the lion’s cubs are scattered.
12 “For a word was stealthily brought to me,
my ear caught only a whisper of it.
13 In passing thoughts flashing through visions at night,
when sleep lies heavy on people,
14 a shiver of horror came over me;
it made all my bones tremble.
15 Then a spirit passed in front of my face;
the hair of my flesh stood on end.
16 It stood still,
but I couldn’t make out its appearance;
yet the form stayed there before my eyes.
Then I heard a subdued voice:
17 ‘Can a human be seen by God as righteous?
Can a mortal be pure before his maker?
18 [God] doesn’t trust his own servants,
he finds fault even with his angels;
19 much more those living in houses of clay,
whose foundation is in the dust.
They are crushed more easily than a worm;
20 shattered between morning and evening;
they perish forever, and no one takes notice.
21 Their cord within them is pulled up;
then they die, without ever gaining wisdom.’
Job 4
Modern English Version
Eliphaz Speaks: Job Has Sinned
4 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
2 “If one attempts a word with you, will you be impatient?
But who can keep from speaking?
3 Surely you have instructed many,
and you have strengthened the weak hands.
4 Your words have raised up him who was falling,
and you have fortified the feeble knees.
5 But now it comes upon you, and you are weary;
it reaches even you, and you are terrified.
6 Is not your reverence your confidence?
And the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 “Remember now, who being innocent ever perished?
Or where were the upright ever wiped out?
8 Just like I have seen, those who plow iniquity
and sow trouble, reap the same.
9 By the breath of God they perish,
and by the blast of His anger they are destroyed.
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 perishes for lack of prey,
and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12 “Now a word was brought to me secretly,
and my ear received a whisper of it.
13 Amid disquieting thoughts from night visions,
when deep sleep falls on mortals,
14 terror and trembling came to me,
which made all my bones shake.
15 A breath of wind was passing before my face,
and the hair on my body was standing up.
16 It stood still,
but I could not recognize its appearance;
a form was in front of my eyes,
there was stillness, 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 He does not trust in His servants,
and He charges His angels with error;
19 Even more, those who dwell in houses of clay,
whose foundation is in the dust,
who are crushed before the moth.
20 They are broken in pieces from morning to evening;
they perish forever without anyone regarding it.
21 Are not their tent ropes plucked up,
so they die, even without wisdom?’
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.