Chapter 4

Eliphaz: Innocent Do Not Suffer

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite 1answered,

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

But awho can refrain 1from speaking?

3 “Behold ayou have admonished many,

And you have strengthened weak hands.

4 “Your words have 1helped the tottering to stand,

And you have strengthened 2feeble knees.

5 “But now it has come to you, and you aare impatient;

It btouches you, and you are dismayed.

6 “Is not your 1afear of God byour confidence,

And the integrity of your ways your hope?

7 “Remember now, awho ever perished being innocent?

Or where were the upright destroyed?

8 “According to what I have seen, athose who plow iniquity

And those who sow trouble harvest it.

9 “By athe breath of God they perish,

And bby the 1blast of His anger they come to an end.

10 “The aroaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion,

And the teeth of the young lions are broken.

11 “The alion perishes for lack of prey,

And the bwhelps of the lioness are scattered.

12 “Now a word awas brought to me stealthily,

And my ear received a bwhisper of it.

13 “Amid disquieting athoughts from the visions of the night,

When deep sleep falls on men,

14 Dread came upon me, and trembling,

And made 1all my bones shake.

15 “Then a 1spirit passed by my face;

The hair of my flesh bristled up.

16 “It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance;

A form was before my eyes;

There was silence, then I heard a voice:

17 ‘Can amankind be just 1before God?

Can a man be pure 1before his bMaker?

18 ‘aHe puts no trust even in His servants;

And against His angels He charges error.

19 ‘How much more those who dwell in ahouses of clay,

Whose bfoundation is in the dust,

Who are crushed before the moth!

20 ‘aBetween morning and evening they are broken in pieces;

Unobserved, they bperish forever.

21 ‘Is not their atent-cord plucked up within them?

They die, yet bwithout wisdom.’