International Standard Version
Job 4
1 In reply, Eliphaz from Teman answered:
2 “Will you get offended if somebody tries to talk to you? Who can keep from speaking at a time like this? a
3 Look! You’ve admonished many people, b and you’ve strengthened feeble hands.
4 A word from you has supported those who have stumbled, and has strengthened faltering knees.
5 “But now it’s your turn, and you’re the one who is worn out! c Now it’s striking you, and you’re dismayed!
6 “Your fear of God has been your confidence, hasn’t it? The integrity of your life has been your hope, hasn’t it?
7 Now please think: Who has ever perished when they’re innocent? Where have the upright been destroyed?
8 It’s been my experience that those who plow the soil of d iniquity and those who sow the seed of e trouble will reap their harvest! f
9 They perish by the breath of God; they are consumed by the storm that is g his anger. h
10 “The lioness may roar, and the lion cub may growl; but even the ivory teeth of the full grown lion are broken.
11 Full grown lions die when they cannot find prey; that’s when the lion cubs are scattered.
12 “A message was confided i to me; my ear caught a whisper of it.
13 Disquieting thoughts from dreams at night; when deep sleep falls on everyone. j
14 A fear fell upon me, along with trembling that caused all my bones to shake in terror. k
15 A spirit glided past me and made the hair on my skin l to bristle.
16 It remained standing, but I couldn’t recognize its appearance. A form appeared before my eyes; At first there was m silence, and then this voice:
17 ‘Can a mortal person n be more righteous than God? Or can the purity of the valiant exceed that of his maker?’ o
18 “Indeed, since he doesn’t trust his servants, p since he charges q his angels with error,
19 how much less confidence r does he have in those who dwell in houses of clay; who were formed from a foundation in dust and can perish s like a moth?
20 They are defeated between morning and evening; they perish forever—and no one notices!
21 Their wealth t perishes with them, doesn’t it? They die, and do so without having wisdom, don’t they?”