GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New King James Version NKJV
1 Then Eliphaz from Teman replied [to Job],
1
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2 "If someone tries to talk to you, will you become impatient? But who can keep from talking?
2
"If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Certainly, you have instructed many people: When hands were weak, you made them strong.
3
Surely you have instructed many, And you have strengthened weak hands.
4 When someone stumbled, you lifted him up with your words. When knees were weak, you gave them strength.
4
Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, And you have strengthened the feeble knees;
5 But trouble comes to you, and you're impatient. It touches you, and you panic.
5
But now it comes upon you, and you are weary; It touches you, and you are troubled.
6 Doesn't your fear of God give you confidence and your lifetime of integrity give you hope?
6
Is not your reverence your confidence? And the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 "Now think about this: Which innocent person [ever] died [an untimely death]? Find me a decent person who has been destroyed.
7
"Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off?
8 Whenever I saw those who plowed wickedness and planted misery, they gathered its harvest.
8
Even as I have seen, Those who plow iniquity And sow trouble reap the same.
9 God destroys them with his breath and kills them with a blast of his anger.
9
By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of His anger they are consumed.
10 Though the roar of the lion and the growl of the ferocious lion [is loud], the young lions have had their teeth knocked out.
10
The roaring of the lion, The voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 The old lions die without any prey [to eat], and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
11
The old lion perishes for lack of prey, And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12 "I was told something secretly and heard something whispered in my ear.
12
"Now a word was secretly brought to me, And my ear received a whisper of it.
13 With disturbing thoughts from visions in the night, when deep sleep falls on people,
13
In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men,
14 fear and trembling came over me, and all my bones shook.
14
Fear came upon me, and trembling, Which made all my bones shake.
15 A spirit passed in front of me. It made my hair stand on end.
15
Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair on my body stood up.
16 Something stood there. I couldn't tell what it was. A vague image was in front of my eyes. I heard a soft voice:
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 saying:
17 'Can [any] mortal be righteous to God? Can [any] human being be pure to his maker?'
17
'Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 "You see, God doesn't trust his own servants, and he accuses his angels of making mistakes.
18
If He puts no trust in His servants, If He charges His angels with error,
19 How much more will he accuse those who live in clay houses that have their foundation in the dust. Those houses can be crushed quicker than a moth!
19
How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before a moth?
20 From morning to evening, they are shattered. They will disappear forever without anyone paying attention.
20
They are broken in pieces from morning till evening; They perish forever, with no one regarding.
21 Haven't the ropes of their tent been loosened? Won't they die without wisdom?
21
Does not their own excellence go away? They die, even without wisdom.'