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1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
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2 If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
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3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
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4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
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5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
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6 Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
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7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
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8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
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9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
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10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
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11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.
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12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.
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13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
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14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
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15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
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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,
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17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
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18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
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19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
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20 They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.
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21 Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.
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- 1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
- 2 “If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient? But who can refrain from speaking?
- 3 “Behold you have admonished many, And you have strengthened weak hands.
- 4 “Your words have helped the tottering to stand, And you have strengthened feeble knees.
- 5 “But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; It touches you, and you are dismayed.
- 6 “Is not your fear {of God your confidence, And the integrity of your ways your hope?
- 7 “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright destroyed?
- 8 “According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity And those who sow trouble harvest it.
- 9 “By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of His anger they come to an end.
- 10 “The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions are broken.
- 11 “The lion perishes for lack of prey, And the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
- 12 “Now a word was brought to me stealthily, And my ear received a whisper of it.
- 13 “Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men,
- 14 Dread came upon me, and trembling, And made all my bones shake.
- 15 “Then a spirit passed by my face; The hair of my flesh bristled up.
- 16 “It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; A form was before my eyes; There was silence, then I heard a voice:
- 17 'Can mankind be just before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?
- 18 'He puts no trust even in His servants; And against His angels He charges error.
- 19 'How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before the moth!
- 20 'Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces; Unobserved, they perish forever.
- 21 'Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, yet without wisdom.'
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