King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
1
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
2 If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
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"If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended? But who can keep from speaking?
3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
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See, you have instructed many; you have strengthened the weak hands.
4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble 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 is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
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But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed.
6 Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
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Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
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"Think now, who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?
8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
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As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.
9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
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By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.
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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The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.
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The strong lion perishes for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.
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"Now a word came stealing to me, my ear received the whisper of it.
13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
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Amid thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on mortals,
14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
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dread came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
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A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh bristled.
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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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 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
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"Can mortals be righteous before God? Can human beings be pure before their Maker?
18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
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Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error;
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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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 destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.
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Between morning and evening they are destroyed; they perish forever without any regarding it.
21 Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.
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Their tent-cord is plucked up within them, and they die devoid of wisdom.'
The King James Version is in the public domain.
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.