The Book of Job

Then Eliphaz the Themanite answered, and said:

If we begin to speak to thee, perhaps thou wilt take it ill, but who can withhold the words he hath conceived?

Behold thou hast taught many, and thou hast strengthened the weary hands:

Thy words have confirmed them that were staggering, and thou hast strengthened the trembling knees:

But now the scourge is come upon thee, and thou faintest: it hath touched thee, and thou art troubled.

Where is thy fear, thy fortitude, thy patience, and the perfection of thy ways?

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent? or when were the just destroyed?

On the contrary I have seen those who work iniquity, and sow sorrows, and reap them,

Perishing by the blast of God, and consumed by the spirit of his wrath.

The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the teeth of the whelps of lions are broken:

The tiger hath perished for want of prey, and the young lions are scattered abroad.

Now there was a word spoken to me in private, and my ears by stealth as it were received the veins of its whisper.

In the horror of a vision by night, when deep sleep is wont to hold men,

Fear seized upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were affrighted:

And when a spirit passed before me, the hair of my flesh stood up.

There stood one whose countenance I knew not, an image before my eyes, and I heard the voice as it were of a gentle wind:

Shall man be justified in comparison of God, or shall a man be more pure than his maker?

Behold they that serve him are not steadfast, and in his angels he found wickedness:

How much more shall they that dwell in houses of clay, who have an earthly foundation, be consumed as with the moth?

From morning till evening they shall be cut down: and because no one understandeth, they shall perish for ever.

And they that shall be left, shall be taken away from them: they shall die, and not in 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.’