Job 4:1–11

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

“If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient?

Yet who can keep from speaking?

Behold, you have instructed many,

and you have strengthened the weak hands.

Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,

and you have made firm the feeble knees.

But now it has come to you, and you are impatient;

it touches you, and you are dismayed.

Is not your fear of God your confidence,

and the integrity of your ways your hope?

“Remember: who that was innocent ever perished?

Or where were the upright cut off?

As I have seen, those who plow iniquity

and sow trouble reap the same.

By the breath of God they perish,

and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.

The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion,

the teeth of the young lions are broken.

The strong lion perishes for lack of prey,

and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

“If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient?

But who can keep from speaking?

Think how you have instructed many,

how you have strengthened feeble hands.

Your words have supported those who stumbled;

you have strengthened faltering knees.

But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged;

it strikes you, and you are dismayed.

Should not your piety be your confidence

and your blameless ways your hope?

“Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished?

Where were the upright ever destroyed?

As I have observed, those who plow evil

and those who sow trouble reap it.

At the breath of God they perish;

at the blast of his anger they are no more.

The lions may roar and growl,

yet the teeth of the great lions are broken.

The lion perishes for lack of prey,

and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

Should anyone try to speak with you

when you are exhausted?

Yet who can keep from speaking?

Indeed, you have instructed many

and have strengthened weak hands.

Your words have steadied the one who was stumbling

and braced the knees that were buckling.

But now that this has happened to you,

you have become exhausted.

It strikes you, and you are dismayed.

Isn’t your piety your confidence,

and the integrity of your life your hope?

Consider: Who has perished when he was innocent?

Where have the honest been destroyed?

In my experience, those who plow injustice

and those who sow trouble reap the same.

They perish at a single blast from God

and come to an end by the breath of his nostrils.

The lion may roar and the fierce lion growl,

but the teeth of young lions are broken.

The strong lion dies if it catches no prey,

and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied to Job:

“Will you be patient and let me say a word?

For who could keep from speaking out?

“In the past you have encouraged many people;

you have strengthened those who were weak.

Your words have supported those who were falling;

you encouraged those with shaky knees.

But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart.

You are terrified when it touches you.

Doesn’t your reverence for God give you confidence?

Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope?

“Stop and think! Do the innocent die?

When have the upright been destroyed?

My experience shows that those who plant trouble

and cultivate evil will harvest the same.

A breath from God destroys them.

They vanish in a blast of his anger.

The lion roars and the wildcat snarls,

but the teeth of strong lions will be broken.

The fierce lion will starve for lack of prey,

and the cubs of the lioness will be scattered.

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

“If someone would test a word with you, would you be offended?

But who can refrain from speaking?

Look, you have instructed many,

and you have strengthened weak hands.

Your words have raised up the one who stumbles,

and you have strengthened knees giving way.

But now it has come to you, and you are worn out;

it touches you, and you are horrified.

Is not your fear in God your confidence?

Is not your hope even the integrity of your ways?

“Think now, who has perished who is innocent?

Or where are the upright destroyed?

Just as I have seen, plowers of mischief

and sowers of trouble will reap it.

By the breath of God they perish,

and by the blast of his anger they come to an end.

The roar of the lion and the voice of a lion in its prime,

and the teeth of the young lions are broken.

The lion is perishing without prey,

and the lion’s whelps are scattered.

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved?

But who can withhold himself from speaking?

Behold, thou hast instructed many,

And thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

Thy words have upholden him that was falling,

And thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest;

It toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

Is not this thy fear, thy confidence,

Thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent?

Or where were the righteous cut off?

Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity,

And sow wickedness, reap the same.

By the blast of God they perish,

And by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion,

And the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

The old lion perisheth for lack of prey,

And the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.