17 “Can a mortal be righteous before God?
Can a man be more pure than his Maker?” (A)
18 If God puts no trust in his servants
and he charges his angels with foolishness,[a](B)
19 how much more those who dwell in clay houses,(C)
whose foundation is in the dust,
who are crushed like a moth!
20 They are smashed to pieces from dawn to dusk;
they perish forever while no one notices.(D)
21 Are their tent cords not pulled up?
They die without wisdom.(E)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 4:18 Or error; Hb obscure

17     “Can a human be more righteous than God,
        a person purer than their maker?”

Its interpretation

18 If he doesn’t trust his servants
        and levels a charge against his messengers,
19     how much less those who dwell in houses of clay,
        whose foundations are in dust,
        and who are crushed like a moth?
20 They are smashed between morning and evening;
    they perish forever without anyone knowing.
21 Isn’t their tent cord pulled up?
    They die without wisdom.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 4:21 Some interpreters end the quotation here rather than 4:17.