Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Then Eliphaz, a native of Teman, responded:
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Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
2 If one tries to answer you, will you be annoyed? But who can hold words back?
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"If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended? But who can keep from speaking?
3 Look, you've instructed many and given strength to drooping hands.
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See, you have instructed many; you have strengthened the weak hands.
4 Your words have raised up the falling; you've steadied failing knees.
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Your words have supported those who were stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees.
5 But now it comes to you, and you are dismayed; it has struck you, and you are frightened.
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But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed.
6 Isn't your religion the source of your confidence; the integrity of your conduct, the source of your hope?
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Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 Think! What innocent person has ever perished? When have those who do the right thing been destroyed?
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"Think now, who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?
8 As I've observed, those who plow sin and sow trouble will harvest it.
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As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.
9 When God breathes deeply, they perish; by a breath of his nostril they are annihilated.
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By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.
10 The roar of a lion and snarl of the king of beasts— yet the teeth of lions are shattered;
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The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 the lion perishes without prey, and its cubs are scattered.
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The strong lion perishes for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
12 But a word sneaked up on me; my ears caught a hint of it.
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"Now a word came stealing to me, my ear received the whisper of it.
13 In profound thoughts, visions of night, when deep sleep falls on people,
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Amid thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on mortals,
14 fear and dread struck me; all of my bones shook.
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dread came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.
15 A breeze swept by my face; the hair of my skin bristled.
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A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh bristled.
16 It stopped. I didn't recognize its visible form, although a figure was in front of my eyes. Silence! Then I heard a voice:
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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 a human be more righteous than God, a person purer than their maker?"
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"Can mortals be righteous before God? Can human beings be pure before their Maker?
18 If he doesn't trust his servants and levels a charge against his messengers,
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Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error;
19 how much less those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundations are in dust, and who are crushed like a moth?
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how much more those who live in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed like a moth.
20 They are smashed between morning and evening; they perish forever without anyone knowing.
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Between morning and evening they are destroyed; they perish forever without any regarding it.
21 Isn't their tent cord pulled up? They die without wisdom.
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Their tent-cord is plucked up within them, and they die devoid of wisdom.'
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.