Job 4:12–5:7

¹²“I was told something secretly 

and heard something whispered in my ear. 

¹³With disturbing thoughts from visions in the night, 

when deep sleep falls on people, 

¹⁴fear and trembling came over me, 

and all my bones shook. 

¹⁵A spirit passed in front of me. 

It made my hair stand on end. 

¹⁶Something stood there. 

I couldn’t tell what it was. 

A vague image was in front of my eyes. 

I heard a soft voice: 

¹⁷‘Can ⸤any⸥ mortal be righteous to God? 

Can ⸤any⸥ human being be pure to his maker?’ 

¹⁸“You see, God doesn’t trust his own servants, 

and he accuses his angels of making mistakes. 

¹⁹How much more will he accuse those who live in clay houses 

that have their foundation in the dust. 

Those houses can be crushed quicker than a moth! 

²⁰From morning to evening, they are shattered. 

They will disappear forever without anyone paying attention. 

²¹Haven’t the ropes of their tent been loosened? 

Won’t they die without wisdom? 

5TH CHAPTER

Eliphaz Continues: Seek God’s Help, Job

¹“Cry out! 

Is there anyone to answer you? 

To which of the holy ones will you turn? 

²Certainly, anger kills a stubborn fool, 

and jealousy murders a gullible person. 

³I have seen a stubborn fool take root, 

but I quickly cursed his house. 

⁴His children are far from help. 

They are crushed at the city gate, 

and no one is there to rescue them. 

⁵What a stubborn fool gathers, hungry people eat. 

They take it even from among the thorns, 

and thirsty people pant after his wealth. 

⁶Certainly, sorrow doesn’t come from the soil, 

and trouble doesn’t sprout from the ground. 

⁷But a person is born for trouble as surely as sparks fly up ⸤from a fire⸥.