Job 4

Thomson^{(i) 1} Here Eliphaz the Thaimianite interrupting him, said, ² Should frequent replies be made to thee in distress? But o who can bear the vehemence of thy words? ³ For if thou hast instructed many; and strengthened hands which were weak; and raised up with words them who were fainting; ⁴ and given courage to knees which were strengthless: ⁵ but now, when trouble hath come upon thee and touched thee, thou art impatient: ⁶ is not either thy fear grounded on folly; or thy hope? And this calamity the effect of thy conduct? ⁷ Recollect therefore. Who ever perished, being innocent? Or when were the righteous utterly destroyed? ⁸ As I have seen men ploughing improper grounds: they who sow such places shall reap sorrows. ⁹ By the decree of the Lord they shall perish; and by the blast of his ire be utterly consumed. ¹⁰ The strength of a lion and the roaring of a lioness and the boastful pride of dragons have been extinguished. ¹¹ The myrmekoleon hath perished for want of food: and young lions have forsaken each other. ¹² But had there been any truth in thy words; none of these evils would have happened to thee. ¹³ Should not my ear receive unusual things coming from him? At a dreadful sound by night, when terror appalleth men, ¹⁴ I was seized with a horror and trembling, which gave a violent shog to my bones. ¹⁵ A wind indeed blew full in my face, and my hair stood erect and my flesh quivered. ¹⁶ I started up, but could perceive nothing: I looked, but there was no form before my eyes. I only heard a sound and a voice, saying: ¹⁷ "What! can a mortal be pure before the Lord, or a man by his works be blameless?" ¹⁸ If in his servants he placeth not confidence, and in his angels perceiveth some blemish: ¹⁹ how should he treat them who dwell in houses of clay, [of which clay we indeed are] but as worms? ²⁰ but from morning till noon: and they are no more. ²¹ Because they could not help themselves they were destroyed. For he blowed on them and they withered: they perished because they had not wisdom.