1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

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

“If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

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

Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.

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

Your words have supported him who was falling, You have 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 has come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.

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

Isn’t your piety your confidence? Isn’t the integrity of your ways your hope?

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

“Remember, now, whoever 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 to what 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 come to an end.

By the breath of God they perish. 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, 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 perishes for lack of prey. The cubs 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. My ear received a whisper of it.

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 falls on men,

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

fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones 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 couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then 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 puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.

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, those who 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.

Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding it.

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

Isn’t their tent cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.’