1 The speech of Eliphaz
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 If we assay [a]to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? 2 But [b]who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, 3 And thou Is. 35:3hast strengthened the weak hands.
4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, 4 And thou Is. 35:3hast strengthened Heb. 12:12[c]the feeble knees.
5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; 5 It toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
6 Is not this ch. 1:1thy fear, Prov. 3:26thy confidence, 6 Thy hope; and the uprightness of thy ways?
7 Remember, I pray thee, Ps. 37:25who ever perished, being innocent? 7 Or where were the righteous cut off?
8 Even as I have seen, Prov. 22:8they that plow iniquity, 8 And sow wickedness, reap the same.
9 By the blast of God they perish, 9 And [d]by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, 10 And Ps. 58:6the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
11 Ps. 34:10The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, 11 And the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.
12 Now a thing was [e]secretly brought to me, 12 And mine ear received a little thereof.
13 ch. 33:15In thoughts from the visions of the night, 13 When deep sleep falleth on men.
14 Fear [f]came upon me, and Hab. 3:16trembling, 14 Which made [g]all my bones to shake.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face; 15 The hair of my flesh stood up:
16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: 16 An image was before mine eyes, 16 [h]There was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? 17 Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 Behold, he ch. 15:15put no trust in his servants; 18 [i]And his angels he charged with folly:
19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, 19 Whose foundation is in the dust, 19 Which are crushed before the moth?
20 Ps. 90:5,6They are [j]destroyed from morning to evening: 20 They perish for ever without any regarding it.
21 Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? 21 They die, even without wisdom.
