1 A nd Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

2 I f a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?

“ If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

3 B ehold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;

Surely you have instructed many, And you have strengthened weak hands.

4 T hy words have upholden him that was stumbling, and thou hast braced up the bending knees:

Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, And you have strengthened the feeble knees;

5 B ut now it is come upon thee, and thou grievest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

But now it comes upon you, and you are weary; It touches you, and you are troubled.

6 H ath not thy piety been thy confidence, and the perfection of thy ways thy hope?

Is not your reverence your confidence? And the integrity of your ways your hope?

7 R emember, I pray thee, who that was innocent has perished? and where were the upright cut off?

“Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off?

8 E ven as I have seen, they that plough iniquity and sow mischief, reap the same.

Even as I have seen, Those who plow iniquity And sow trouble reap the same.

9 B y the breath of +God they perish, and by the blast of his nostrils are they consumed.

By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of His anger they are consumed.

10 T he roar of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken;

The roaring of the lion, The voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions are broken.

11 T he old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.

The old lion perishes for lack of prey, And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

12 N ow to me a word was secretly brought, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.

“Now a word was secretly brought to me, And my ear received a whisper of it.

13 I n thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men:—

In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men,

14 F ear came on me, and trembling, and made all my bones to shake;

Fear came upon me, and trembling, Which made all my bones shake.

15 A nd a spirit passed before my face—the hair of my flesh stood up—

Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair on my body stood up.

16 I t stood still; I could not discern the appearance thereof: a form was before mine eyes; I heard a slight murmur and a voice:

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 S hall man be more just than +God? Shall a man be purer than his Maker?

‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?

18 L o, he trusteth not his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly:

If He puts no trust in His servants, If He charges His angels with error,

19 H ow much more them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed as the moth!

How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before a moth?

20 F rom morning to evening are they smitten: without any heeding it, they perish for ever.

They are broken in pieces from morning till evening; They perish forever, with no one regarding.

21 I s not their tent-cord torn away in them? they die, and without wisdom.

Does not their own excellence go away? They die, even without wisdom.’