Job 4

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Eliphaz Speaks

4 <1-2> Eliphaz from Teman answered:

"I must say something.

Would it upset you if I speak?

<3> Job, you have taught many people.

You encouraged those who were ready to quit.

<4> Your words helped those who

were ready to fall.

You gave strength to those who

couldn't stand by themselves.

<5> But now trouble comes to you,

and you are discouraged.

Trouble hits you,

and you are upset.

<6> You worship God.

You trust him.

You are a good man,

so let that be your hope.

<7> Can you think of any innocent person

who was ever destroyed?

Do you know of any place

where good people are punished?

<8> Yes, I have seen people whose lives were cut short,

but they were evil troublemakers.

<9> They lost the breath God gave them.

They were cut off from his breath of life.

<10> They were like roaring lions,

like growling lions who broke their teeth,

<11> like a lioness that couldn't find prey.

They died and their cubs starved to death.

<12> "I happened to hear a message.

My ears caught a whisper of it.

<13> Like a bad dream[14] in the night,

it ruined my sleep.

<14> It frightened me,

and I trembled down to my bones.

<15> A ghost passed by my face.

The hair on my body stood up!

<16> The spirit stood still,

but I could not see what it was.

A shape stood before my eyes,

and there was silence.

Then I heard a very quiet voice:

<17> 'A person cannot be more right than God.

People cannot be more pure than their Maker.

<18> Look, God cannot even trust his heavenly servants.

God sees faults even in his angels.

<19> So surely people are worse!

People live in houses of clay[15] built on dust.

They are crushed to death

as easily as a moth!

<20> People die from dawn to sunset,

and no one even notices.

They die and are gone forever.

<21> The ropes of their tent are pulled up,

and they die without wisdom.'

© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.