1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

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

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

3 B ehold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.

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

4 Y our words have supported him who was falling, You have made firm the feeble 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 faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.

But now it comes upon you, and you are weary; It touches you, and you are troubled.

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

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

7 “ Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?

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

8 A ccording to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity, and sow trouble, reap 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 perish. By the blast of his anger are they consumed.

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

10 T he roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, 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 old lion perishes for lack of prey. The cubs of the lioness are scattered abroad.

The old lion perishes for lack of prey, And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

12 “ Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a whisper of it.

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

13 I n thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,

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

14 f ear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.

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

15 T hen a spirit passed before my face. The hair of my flesh stood up.

Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair on my body stood up.

16 I t stood still, but I couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,

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

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

18 B ehold, he puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.

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

19 H ow 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 a moth?

20 B etween morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding it.

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

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

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