Job 4

Eliphaz: Innocent Do Not Suffer

1Then Eliphaz the Temanite 1answered,2“If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient? But 2who can refrain 3from speaking?3Behold 4you have admonished many, And you have strengthened weak hands.4Your words have 5helped the tottering to stand, And you have strengthened 6feeble knees.5But now it has come to you, and you 7are impatient; It 8touches you, and you are dismayed.6Is not your 910fear of God 11your confidence, And the integrity of your ways your hope?

7“Remember now, 12who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright destroyed?8According to what I have seen, 13those who plow iniquity And those who sow trouble harvest it.9By 14the breath of God they perish, And 15by the 16blast of His anger they come to an end.10The 17roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions are broken.11The 18lion perishes for lack of prey, And the 19whelps of the lioness are scattered.

12“Now a word 20was brought to me stealthily, And my ear received a 21whisper of it.13Amid disquieting 22thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men,14Dread came upon me, and trembling, And made 23all my bones shake.15Then a 24spirit passed by my face; The hair of my flesh bristled up.16It 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 25mankind be just 26before God? Can a man be pure 27before his 28Maker?1829He puts no trust even in His servants; And against His angels He charges error.19How much more those who dwell in 30houses of clay, Whose 31foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before the moth!2032Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces; Unobserved, they 33perish forever.21Is not their 34tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, yet 35without wisdom.’