The Book of Job

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, and sayde,

If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieued? but who can withholde himselfe from speaking?

Behold, thou hast taught many, and hast strengthened the wearie hands.

Thy wordes haue confirmed him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the weake knees.

But now it is come vpon thee, and thou art grieued: it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

Is not this thy feare, thy confidence, thy pacience, and the vprightnesse of thy wayes?

Remember, I pray thee: who euer perished, being an innocent? or where were the vpright destroyed?

As I haue seene, they that plow iniquitie, and sowe wickednesse, reape the same.

With the blast of God they perish, and with the breath of his nostrels are they cosumed.

The roaring of the Lion, and the voyce of the Lionesse, and the teeth of the Lions whelpes are broken.

The Lyon perisheth for lacke of pray, and the Lyons whelpes are scattered abroade.

But a thing was brought to me secretly, and mine eare hath receiued a litle thereof.

In the thoughtes of ye visions of the night, when sleepe falleth on men,

Feare came vpon me, and dread which made all my bones to tremble.

And the wind passed before me, and made the heares of my flesh to stande vp.

Then stoode one, and I knewe not his face: an image was before mine eyes, and in silence heard I a voyce, saying,

Shall man be more iust then God? or shall a man be more pure then his maker?

Beholde, he founde no stedfastnesse in his Seruants, and laid follie vpon his Angels.

Howe much more in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which shalbe destroyed before the moth?

They be destroyed from the morning vnto the euening: they perish for euer, without regarde.

Doeth not their dignitie goe away with them? do they not die, and that without wisdom?

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

“If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.

Your words have supported him who was falling, you have made the feeble knees firm.

But now it has come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.

Isn’t your piety your confidence? Isn’t the integrity of your ways your hope?

“Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?

According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble, reap the same.

By the breath of God they perish. By the blast of his anger are they consumed.

The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

The old lion perishes for lack of prey. The cubs of the lioness are scattered abroad.

“Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a whisper of it.

In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,

fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.

Then a spirit passed before my face. The hair of my flesh stood up.

It stood still, but I couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,

‘Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?

Behold, he puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.

How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!

Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding it.

Isn’t their tent cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.’