Job 4
4
Eliphaz Speaks: The Innocent Prosper
1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2“If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient?
Yet who can keep from speaking?
3Behold, you have instructed many,
and you have #Isa. 35:3; [Heb. 12:12]strengthened the weak hands.
4Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,
and you have #[See ver. 3 above]made firm the feeble knees.
5But now it has come to you, and you are impatient;
it touches you, and you are dismayed.
6 # ch. 1:1 Is not your fear of God#4:6 Hebrew lacks of God your #ch. 31:24; Prov. 3:26confidence,
and the integrity of your ways your hope?
7“Remember: #[Ps. 37:25]who that was innocent ever perished?
Or where were the upright cut off?
8As I have seen, those who #Hos. 10:13; [Ps. 7:14; Prov. 22:8; Gal. 6:7, 8]plow iniquity
and sow trouble reap the same.
9By #Isa. 30:33 the breath of God they perish,
and by #ch. 15:30; Ex. 15:8; Ps. 18:15; [Isa. 11:4; 2 Thess. 2:8]the blast of his anger they are consumed.
10The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion,
#
Ps. 58:6; [ch. 29:17; Ps. 3:7] the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11The strong lion perishes for lack of prey,
and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12“Now a word was brought to me stealthily;
my ear received #ch. 26:14the whisper of it.
13Amid #ch. 20:2 thoughts from #ch. 33:15; Gen. 2:21; 15:12; 1 Sam. 26:12; Isa. 29:10visions of the night,
when #ch. 33:15; Gen. 2:21; 15:12; 1 Sam. 26:12; Isa. 29:10deep sleep falls on men,
14dread came upon me, and trembling,
which made all my bones shake.
15A spirit glided past my face;
the hair of my flesh stood up.
16It stood still,
but I could not discern its appearance.
#
Num. 12:8 A form was before my eyes;
there was silence, then I heard #[1 Kgs. 19:12]a voice:
17 # ch. 9:2; 10:4; 25:4; 32:2 ‘Can mortal man be in the right before#4:17 Or more than; twice in this verse God?
Can a man be pure before his Maker?
18Even in his servants #ch. 15:15he puts no trust,
and his angels he charges with error;
19how much more those who dwell in houses of #ch. 10:9; 13:12; 33:6; Isa. 64:8; 2 Cor. 4:7; 5:1 clay,
whose foundation is in #Gen. 2:7; 3:19; 18:27 the dust,
who are crushed like#4:19 Or before #[ch. 13:28]the moth.
20Between #[Ps. 90:5, 6; Isa. 38:12] morning and evening they are beaten to pieces;
they perish forever #[Isa. 42:25; 57:1]without anyone regarding it.
21Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them,
# ch. 36:12; Prov. 5:23; 10:21; [Hos. 4:6] do they not die, and that without wisdom?’
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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Job 4
4
Eliphaz’s First Speech. 1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2If someone attempts a word with you, would you mind?
How can anyone refrain from speaking?
3Look, you have instructed many,
and made firm their feeble hands.
4Your words have upheld the stumbler;
you have strengthened faltering knees.
5But now that it comes to you, you are impatient;
when it touches you, you are dismayed.
6Is not your piety a source of confidence,
and your integrity of life your hope?
7Reflect now, what innocent person perishes?#Ps 37:25.
Where are the upright destroyed?
8As I see it, those who plow mischief
and sow trouble will reap them.
9By the breath of God they perish,#Ps 18:16; Is 11:4; 2 Thes 2:8.
and by the blast of his wrath they are consumed.
10Though the lion#The lion: used figuratively here for the violent, rapacious sinner who cannot prevail against God. roars, though the king of beasts cries out,
yet the teeth of the young lions are broken;
11The old lion perishes for lack of prey,
and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12A word was stealthily brought to me,#A dramatic presentation of the idea of human nothingness in contrast to God’s greatness (v. 17). The message of the “private revelation” that stirs Eliphaz so deeply is in reality expressed countless times in the Bible. The statements of the friends are often “truths” that are insensitive or irrelevant to Job’s questioning.
my ear caught a whisper of it.
13In my thoughts during visions of the night,#Jb 33:15.
when deep sleep falls on mortals,
14Fear came upon me, and shuddering,
that terrified me to the bone.
15Then a spirit passed before me,
and the hair of my body stood on end.
16It paused, but its likeness I could not recognize;
a figure was before my eyes,
in silence I heard a voice:#1 Kgs 19:12.
17“Can anyone be more in the right than God?#Jb 9:2; 15:14–16; 25:4; Ps 130:3; 143:2.
Can mortals be more blameless than their Maker?
18Look, he puts no trust in his servants,#Jb 15:15; 2 Pt 2:4; Jude 6.
and even with his messengers he finds fault.
19How much more with those who dwell in houses of clay,
whose foundation is in the dust,
who are crushed more easily than a moth!
20Morning or evening they may be shattered;
unnoticed, they perish forever.
21The pegs of their tent are plucked up;
they die without knowing wisdom.”
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