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

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

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

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

Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, And you have 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 comes upon you, and you are weary; It touches you, and you are troubled.

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

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

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

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

8 A s I have seen, those who plow sin and plant trouble gather 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 are destroyed. They are destroyed by the wind of His anger.

By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of His anger they are 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, 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 perishes for lack of prey, And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

12 “ Now a word was brought to me in secret. My ear heard it spoken in a quiet voice.

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

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

In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls 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 shake.

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

Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair on my body 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 its appearance. A form was before my eyes; There was silence; Then I heard a voice saying:

17 ‘ Can man be right more than God? Can a man be pure more than his Maker?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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