Job
4 Elʹi·phaz+ the Teʹman·ite then said in reply:
2 “If someone tries to speak to you, will you become impatient?
For who can hold back from speaking?
3 True, you have corrected many,
And you used to strengthen the weak hands.
4 Your words would raise up anyone stumbling,
And you would strengthen those whose knees were buckling.
5 But now it has happened to you, and you are overwhelmed;*
It touches you, and you are dismayed.
6 Does your reverence for God not give you confidence?
Does your way of integrity+ not give you hope?
7 Remember, please: What innocent person has ever perished?
When have the upright ever been destroyed?
8 What I have seen is that those who plow* what is harmful
And those who sow trouble will reap the same.
9 By the breath of God they perish,
And through a blast of his anger they come to an end.
10 The lion roars, and a young lion growls,
But even the teeth of strong lions* are broken.
11 A lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the cubs of a lion are scattered.
12 Now a word was brought to me in secret,
And a whisper of it reached my ear.
13 In troubling thoughts during visions of the night,
When deep sleep falls upon men,
14 A terrible trembling came upon me,
Filling all my bones with dread.
15 A spirit passed over my face;
The hair of my flesh bristled.
16 It then stood still,
But I did not recognize its appearance.
A form was in front of my eyes;
There was a calm, and then I heard a voice:
17 ‘Can a mortal man be more righteous than God?
Can a man be cleaner than his own Maker?’
18 Look! He has no faith in his servants,
And he finds fault with his angels.*
19 How much more so with those dwelling in houses of clay,
Whose foundation is in the dust,+
Who are crushed as easily as a moth!
20 They are completely crushed from morning to evening;
They perish forever, and no one takes notice.
21 Are they not like a tent whose cord is pulled out?
They die without wisdom.