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
First Series of Speeches
Eliphaz Speaks
1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2Should anyone try to speak with you
when you are exhausted?
Yet who can keep from speaking?
3Indeed, you have instructed many
and have strengthened # Jb 26:2; Is 35:3; Heb 12:12 weak hands.
4Your words have steadied the one who was stumbling
and braced the knees that were buckling. # Dt 3:28; Jb 16:15; Is 41:10
5But now that this has happened to you,
you have become exhausted.
It strikes # Jb 5:19; 6:7; 19:21 you, and you are dismayed.
6Isn’t your piety your confidence,
and the integrity of your life # Lit ways your hope? # Jb 11:18; Ps 119:116; Jr 17:7
7Consider: who has perished when he was innocent?
Where have the honest been destroyed? # Jb 8:20; Ps 37:25; Pr 12:21
8In my experience, those who plow injustice
and those who sow trouble # Jb 5:7; 15:35; Is 59:4 reap the same. # Ps 7:15; Pr 22:8; Hs 8:7
9They perish at a single blast # 2Sm 22:26; Jb 37:10; Is 30:33 from God
and come to an end by the breath of His nostrils. # Ex 15:8-10; Ps 18:15; 2Th 2:8
10The lion may roar and the fierce lion # Ps 10:9; 17:12; 22:13,21 growl,
but the fangs of young lions are broken. # Jb 29:17; Ps 3:7; 58:6
11The strong lion dies if it catches no prey,
and the cubs of the lioness are scattered. # Ps 59:11; Pr 20:8,20; Is 33:3
12A word was brought to me in secret;
my ears caught a whisper of it. # Jb 13:1; 33:16; 36:10,15
13Among unsettling thoughts from visions in the night, # Jb 7:14; 20:8; 33:15
when deep sleep # Gn 2:21; 15:12; Jb 33:15 descends on men,
14fear and trembling came over me # Jb 21:6; Ps 55:5; 119:120
and made all my bones shake.
15A wind # Or A spirit passed by me,
and I shuddered with fear. # Or and the hair on my body stood up
16A figure stood there,
but I could not recognize its appearance;
a form loomed before my eyes.
I heard a quiet voice:
17“Can a person be more righteous than God,
or a man more pure than his Maker? ” # Jb 15:14; 25:4; Pr 20:9
18If God puts no trust in His servants
and He charges His angels with foolishness, # Or error ; Hb obscure # Jb 15:15; 21:22; 25:5
19how much more those who dwell in clay houses, # Jb 10:9; 33:6; Is 64:8
whose foundation is in the dust,
who are crushed like a moth!
20They are smashed to pieces from dawn to dusk;
they perish forever while no one notices. # Jb 14:2; 20:7; Ps 90:5-6
21Are their tent cords not pulled up?
They die without wisdom. # Jb 36:12; Pr 5:23; 10:21
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