Aa
Eliphaz Says the Innocent Do Not Suffer
1Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,
2“If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient?
But who can refrain Lit in wordsfrom speaking?
3Behold, you have taught many,
And you have strengthened weak hands.
4Your words have helped the stumbling to stand,
And you have strengthened Lit knees giving wayfeeble knees.
5But now it comes to you, and you are impatient;
It touches you, and you are horrified.
6Is your Or reverence forfear of God not your confidence,
And the integrity of your ways your hope?
7“Remember now, who ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright destroyed?
8According to what I have seen, those who I.e., deviseplow wrongdoing
And those who sow trouble harvest it.
9By the breath of God they perish,
And by the Lit windblast of His anger they come to an end.
10The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion,
And the teeth of the young lions are broken out.
11The lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12“Now a word was brought to me secretly,
And my ear received a whisper of it.
13Amid disquieting thoughts from visions of the night,
When deep sleep falls on people,
14Dread came upon me, and trembling,
And made Lit the multitude ofall my bones shake.
15Then a Or wind passed overspirit passed by my face;
The hair of my flesh stood up.
16 Something was standing still, but I could not recognize its appearance;
A form was before my eyes;
There was silence, then I heard a voice:
17‘Can mankind be righteous Lit frombefore God?
Can a man be pure Lit frombefore his Maker?
18He puts no trust even in His servants;
And He accuses His angels of error.
19How much more those who live in houses of clay,
Whose foundation is in the dust,
Who are crushed before the moth!
20Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces;
Unregarded, they perish forever.
21Is their tent-cord not pulled out within them?
They die, yet without wisdom.’