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Job

Explores the themes of suffering and faith through the story of Job, a man tested by losing everything.

Chapter 4

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1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

*Then Eliphaz from Teman spoke and said,

2 If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

*If we try to talk with you, will you be upset? But who can stop themselves from talking?

3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

*Look, you have taught many people, and you have helped those who are not strong.

4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

*Your words supported the one who was faltering, and you made the weak knees strong again.

5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

*But now it has happened to you, and you are afraid; it affects you, and you are disturbed.

6 Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

*Isn't your fear, trust, hope, and righteous actions all part of you?

7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

*Remember, please, who has ever died innocently? Or where did the righteous get eliminated?

8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

*Just like I've observed, those who do wrong things and plant evil will end up with the same results.

9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

*By God's powerful wind, they die, and with his breath out of his nose, they are destroyed.

10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

*The loud growl of the strong lion, its powerful roar, and the sharp teeth of young lions are all weakened.

11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.

*The old lion dies because it can't find enough food, and the strong lion's puppies are separated far away.

12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.

*Someone quietly shared information with me, and I heard a small part of it.

13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,

*In ideas from dreams at night, when people have really deep sleep.

14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

*I became scared and shook, causing all my bones to tremble.

15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:

*Then a spirit quickly went by me; my skin's hair stood on end.

16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

*It stayed motionless; I couldn't see its shape. An image appeared in front of me, it was quiet, and I heard a voice speaking.

17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?

*Should humans be more fair than God? Can a person be purer than the one who made them?

18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:

*Look, he didn't rely on his helpers; and he told his angels to act foolishly.

19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?

*How much smaller those living in clay houses are, with foundations in the dust, compared to what the moth can destroy?

20 They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.

*In the morning until evening, they are destroyed and they don't care. They disappear forever.

21 Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.

*Doesn't their greatness leave them when they die? They pass away without any wisdom.

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