1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

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

If we 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 strengthened 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 upon 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 this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

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

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

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

Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

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

By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils 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 stout lion's whelps 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 little 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 form thereof: an image 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 put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged 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 less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?

20 B etween morning and evening they are destroyed. Without anyone seeing it they become lost forever.

They are destroyed from morning to evening: 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.’

Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.