1. |
Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said, |
2. |
If one assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking? |
3. |
Behold, thou hast instructed many, And thou hast strengthened the weak hands. |
4. |
Thy words have upholden him that was falling, And thou hast made firm the feeble knees. |
5. |
But now it is come unto thee, and thou faintest; It toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. |
6. |
Is not thy fear `of God' thy confidence, `And' the integrity of thy ways thy hope? |
7. |
Remember, I pray thee, who `ever' perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off? |
8. |
According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, And sow trouble, reap the same. |
9. |
By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of his anger are they consumed. |
10. |
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions, are broken. |
11. |
The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, And the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad. |
12. |
Now a thing was secretly brought to me, And mine ear received a whisper thereof. |
13. |
In thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falleth on men, |
14. |
Fear came upon me, and trembling, Which made all my bones to shake. |
15. |
Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair of my flesh stood up. |
16. |
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. |
Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker? |
18. |
Behold, he putteth no trust in his servants; And his angels he chargeth with folly: |
19. |
How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before the moth! |
20. |
Betwixt morning and evening they are destroyed: They perish for ever without any regarding it. |
21. |
Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom. |