1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

2 “ If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient? But who can refrain from speaking?

If one assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

3 “ Behold you have admonished many, And you have strengthened weak hands.

Behold, thou hast instructed many, And thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

4 “ Your words have helped the tottering to stand, And you have strengthened feeble knees.

Thy words have upholden him that was falling, And thou hast made firm the feeble knees.

5 “ But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; It touches you, and you are dismayed.

But now it is come unto thee, and thou faintest; It toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

6 “ Is not your fear of God your confidence, And the integrity of your ways your hope?

Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, And the integrity of thy ways thy hope?

7 “ Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright destroyed?

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?

8 “ According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity And those who sow trouble harvest it.

According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, And sow trouble, reap the same.

9 “ By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of His anger they come to an end.

By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of his anger 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.

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

11 “ The lion perishes for lack of prey, And the whelps of the lioness are scattered.

The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, And the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.

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

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, And mine ear received a whisper thereof.

13 “ Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men,

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

14 D read came upon me, and trembling, And made all my bones shake.

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

15 “ Then a spirit passed by my face; The hair of my flesh bristled up.

Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair of my flesh stood up.

16 “ It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; A form was before my eyes; There was silence, then I heard a voice:

It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; A form was before mine eyes: There was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

17 ‘ Can mankind be just before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?

Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?

18 ‘ He puts no trust even in His servants; And against His angels He charges error.

Behold, he putteth no trust in his servants; And his angels he chargeth with folly:

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

How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before the moth!

20 ‘ Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces; Unobserved, they perish forever.

Betwixt morning and evening they are destroyed: They perish for ever without any regarding it.

21 ‘ Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, yet without wisdom.’

Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.