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Eliphaz Says the Innocent Do Not Suffer

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

“If one tries a word with you, will you become weary?
But (A)who can hold back [a]from speaking?
Behold, (B)you have disciplined many,
And you have strengthened limp hands.
Your words have [b]helped the stumbling to stand,
And you have encouraged [c]feeble knees.
But now it has come to you, and you (C)are impatient;
It (D)touches you, and you are dismayed.
Is not your [d](E)fear of God (F)your confidence,
And the integrity of your ways your hope?

“Remember now, (G)who ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright wiped out?
According to what I have seen, (H)those who plow wickedness
And those who sow trouble harvest it.
By (I)the breath of God they perish,
And (J)by the wind 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.
11 The (L)lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the (M)whelps of the lioness are scattered.

12 “Now a word (N)was brought to me stealthily,
And my ear received a (O)whisper of it.
13 Amid disquieting (P)thoughts from the visions of the night,
When deep sleep falls on men,
14 Dread came upon me, and trembling,
And made the multitude of my bones shake in dread.
15 Then a [e]spirit swept by my face;
The hair of my flesh bristled up.
16 It stood 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 right [f]before God?
Can a man be pure [g]before his (R)Maker?
18 (S)He puts no trust even in His slaves;
And against His angels He charges error.
19 How much more those who dwell 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;
[h]Unobserved, they (W)perish forever.
21 Is not their (X)tent-cord pulled up within them?
They die, yet (Y)without wisdom.’

Footnotes

  1. Job 4:2 Lit in words
  2. Job 4:4 Lit caused
  3. Job 4:4 Lit bowing
  4. Job 4:6 Or reverence
  5. Job 4:15 Or breath passed over
  6. Job 4:17 Lit from
  7. Job 4:17 Lit from
  8. Job 4:20 Lit Without establishing

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.