Eliphaz: the Innocent Prosper
1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
3Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
4Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
5But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
6Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
7Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
8Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
9By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
10The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
11The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.
12Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.
13In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
14Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
15Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
16It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
17Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
18Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
19How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
20They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.
21Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Eliphaz: The Innocent Prosper
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
2 “If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.
4 Your words have supported him who was falling, You have made firm the feeble knees.
5 But now it has come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.
6 Isn’t your piety your confidence? Isn’t the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 “Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
8 According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity, and sow trouble, reap the same.
9 By the breath of God they perish. By the blast of his anger are they consumed.
10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey. The cubs of the lioness are scattered abroad.
12 “Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a whisper of it.
13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,
14 fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face. The hair of my flesh stood up.
16 It stood still, but I couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,
17 ‘Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 Behold, he puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.
19 How much more, those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!
20 Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding it.
21 Isn’t their tent cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.’
Eliphaz: The Innocent Prosper
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2 “If one ventures a word with you, will you be wearied?
Yet who can keep from speaking?
3 Surely you have instructed many,
and have strengthened their feeble hands.
4 Your words have steadied those who stumbled;
you have braced the knees that were buckling.
5 But now trouble has come upon you, and you are weary.
It strikes you, and you are dismayed.
6 Is your reverence not your confidence,
and the uprightness of your ways your hope?
7 Consider now, I plead:
Who, being innocent, has ever perished?
Or where have the upright been destroyed?
8 As I have observed, those who plow iniquity
and those who sow trouble reap the same.
9 By the breath of God they perish,
and by the blast of His anger they are consumed.
10 The lion may roar, and the fierce lion may growl,
yet the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey,
and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12 Now a word came to me secretly;
my ears caught a whisper of it.
13 In disquieting visions in the night,
when deep sleep falls on men,
14 fear and trembling came over me
and made all my bones shudder.
15 Then a spirit a glided past my face,
and the hair on my body bristled.
16 It stood still,
but I could not discern its appearance;
a form loomed before my eyes,
and I heard a whispering voice:
17 ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God,
or a man more pure than his Maker?
18 If God puts no trust in His servants,
and He charges His angels with error,
19 how much more those who dwell in houses of clay,
whose foundations are in the dust,
who can be crushed like a moth!
20 They are smashed to pieces from dawn to dusk;
unnoticed, they perish forever.
21 Are not their tent cords pulled up,
so that they die without wisdom?’
Footnotes:
15 a Or a wind
Eliphaz: the Innocent Prosper
1And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: --
2Hath one tried a word with thee? -- Thou art weary! And to keep in words who is able?
3Lo, thou hast instructed many, And feeble hands thou makest strong.
4The stumbling one do thy words raise up, And bowing knees thou dost strengthen.
5But now, it cometh in unto thee, And thou art weary; It striketh unto thee, and thou art troubled.
6Is not thy reverence thy confidence? Thy hope -- the perfection of thy ways?
7Remember, I pray thee, Who, being innocent, hath perished? And where have the upright been cut off?
8As I have seen -- ploughers of iniquity, And sowers of misery, reap it!
9From the breath of God they perish, And from the spirit of His anger consumed.
10The roaring of a lion, And the voice of a fierce lion, And teeth of young lions have been broken.
11An old lion is perishing without prey, And the whelps of the lioness do separate.
12And unto me a thing is secretly brought, And receive doth mine ear a little of it.
13In thoughts from visions of the night, In the falling of deep sleep on men,
14Fear hath met me, and trembling, And the multitude of my bones caused to fear.
15And a spirit before my face doth pass, Stand up doth the hair of my flesh;
16It standeth, and I discern not its aspect, A similitude is over-against mine eyes, Silence! and a voice I hear:
17'Is mortal man than God more righteous? Than his Maker is a man cleaner?
18Lo, in His servants He putteth no credence, Nor in His messengers setteth praise.'
19Also -- the inhabitants of houses of clay, (Whose foundation is in the dust, They bruise them before a moth.)
20From morning to evening are beaten down, Without any regarding, for ever they perish.
21Hath not their excellency been removed with them? They die, and not in wisdom!
