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The Book of Job

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- Chapter 4 -

Eliphaz: Job has sinned

1
But Eliphaz the Themanite, answering, said:
2
If we start to speak to you, perhaps you will take it badly, but who can hold back the words he has conceived?
3
Behold, you have taught many, and you have strengthened weary hands.
4
Your words have reassured the wavering, and you have fortified the trembling knees.
5
But now the scourge has overcome you, and you falter. It has touched you, and you are disturbed.
6
Where is your reverence, your fortitude, your patience, and the perfection of your ways?(a)
7
Consider this, I beg you: who ever perished being innocent? Or when have the righteous been destroyed?
8
In fact, I have instead seen those who work iniquity and who sow resentments, reap them,
9
perishing by the breath of God, and being consumed by the wrath of his spirit.
10
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the teeth of young lions have been worn away.
11
The tiger has perished because it does not have prey, and the young lions have been scattered.
12
Furthermore, a word was spoken to me in secret, and, as if by theft, my ears received the pulse of its whisper.
13
In the horror of a vision by night, when men are accustomed to be overtaken by a deep sleep,
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fear and trembling seized me and all my bones were terrified.
15
And when a spirit passed before me, the hair on my body stood up.
16
There appeared an image before my eyes, someone whose face I did not recognize, and I heard a voice like a gentle breeze.
17
Should man be justified in relation to God, or will a man be more pure than his Maker?(b)
18
Behold, those who serve him are not steadfast, and in his angels he finds imperfection.
19
How much more will those who live in houses of clay, which have an earthly foundation, be consumed like the moth?
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From morning all the way to evening, they will be cut down, and because no one understands, they will be destroyed without ceasing.
21
But those who are left behind will be taken away from them; they will die, and not in wisdom.

Footnotes

(a)4:6 The word ‘timor’ is usually translated as ‘fear,’ but, in this context, it refers to the reverence or awe for God; i.e. ‘fear of God.’(Conte)
(b)4:17 Shall man be justified in comparison of God, etc:These are the words which Eliphaz had heard from an angel, which, ver. 15, he calls a spirit.(Challoner)

Eliphaz: Job has sinned

1
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
2
“If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3
Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.
4
Your words have supported him who was falling, you have made the feeble knees firm.
5
But now it has come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.
6
Isn’t your piety your confidence? Isn’t the integrity of your ways your hope?
7
“Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
8
According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble, reap the same.
9
By the breath of God they perish. By the blast of his anger are they consumed.
10
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
11
The old lion perishes for lack of prey. The cubs of the lioness are scattered abroad.
12
“Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a whisper of it.
13
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,
14
fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.
15
Then a spirit passed before my face. The hair of my flesh stood up.
16
It stood still, but I couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then 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 puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.
19
How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!
20
Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding it.
21
Isn’t their tent cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.’
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