1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

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

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

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

See, you have taught many, and you have given strength to weak hands.

4 Y our words have supported him who was falling, You have made firm the feeble knees.

Your words have helped him stand who would have fallen. You have given strength to weak knees.

5 B ut now it has come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.

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

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

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

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

“Think now, who without guilt was ever destroyed?

8 A ccording to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity, and sow trouble, reap the same.

As I have seen, those who plow sin and plant trouble gather the same.

9 B y the breath of God they perish. By the blast of his anger are they consumed.

By the breath of God they are destroyed. They are destroyed by the wind of His anger.

10 T he roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

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

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

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

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

With troubled thoughts from the dreams of the night, when deep sleep comes upon men,

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

fear came to me and I shook. It made all my bones shake.

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

A spirit passed by my face. The hair of my flesh 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,

The 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:

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

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

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

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

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 live in houses of clay, who build upon the dust, who are crushed like the moth!

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

Between morning and evening they are destroyed. Without anyone seeing it they become lost forever.

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

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