1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

2 “ If one speaks with you, will you want him to stop? But who can keep from speaking?

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

3 S ee, you have taught many, and you have given strength to weak hands.

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

4 Y our words have helped him stand who would have fallen. You have given strength to weak knees.

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

5 B ut now it has come to you, and you are not happy. It touches you, and you are troubled and sad.

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

6 I s not your fear of God what gives you strength and your good ways that give you hope?

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

7 “ Think now, who without guilt was ever destroyed?

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

8 A s I have seen, those who plow sin and plant trouble gather the same.

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

9 B y the breath of God they are destroyed. They are destroyed by the wind of His anger.

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

10 T he noise of the lion, the voice of the angry 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 T he strong lion dies because there is no food to get. And the young of the lioness are sent everywhere.

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 in secret. My ear heard it spoken in a quiet voice.

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

13 W ith troubled thoughts from the dreams of the night, when deep sleep comes upon men,

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

14 f ear came to me and I shook. It made all my bones shake.

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

15 A spirit passed by my face. The hair of my flesh stood up.

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

16 T he spirit stood still, but I could not understand what I saw. Something was in front of my eyes. All was quiet, 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 man be right more than God? Can a man be pure more than his Maker?

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

18 H e puts no trust even in His servants. He finds mistakes among His angels.

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

19 H ow much more those who live in houses of clay, who build upon the dust, who are crushed like 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 B etween morning and evening they are destroyed. Without anyone seeing it they become lost forever.

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

21 I s not their tent-rope pulled up within them? They die, and have no wisdom.’

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