Eliphaz: Job Has Sinned
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2 “Ifone attempts a word with you, will you become weary?
But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Surely you have instructed many,
# And youhave strengthened weak hands.
4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,
# And youhave strengthened the feeble knees;
5 But now it comes upon you, and you are weary;
It touches you, and you are troubled.
6 Isnotyour reverenceyour confidence?
And the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 “Remember now,whoeverperished being innocent?
Or where were the uprightevercut off?
8 Even as I have seen,
# Those who plow iniquity
And sow trouble reap the same.
9 By the blast of God they perish,
And by the breath of His anger they are consumed.
10 The roaring of the lion,
The voice of the fierce lion,
# Andthe teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12 “Now a word was secretly brought to me,
And my ear received a whisper of it.
13 In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night,
When deep sleep falls on men,
14 Fear came upon me, andtrembling,
Which made all my bones shake.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face;
The hair on my body stood up.
16 It stood still,
But I could not discern its appearance.
A formwasbefore my eyes;
Therewassilence;
Then I heard a voicesaying:
17 ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?
Can a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 If Heputs no trust in His servants,
IfHe charges His angels with error,
19 How much more those who dwell in houses of clay,
Whose foundation is in the dust,
Whoare crushed before a moth?
20 They are broken in pieces from morning till evening;
They perish forever, with no one regarding.
21 Does not their own excellence go away?
They die, even without wisdom.’