Third Millennium Bible TMB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
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Then Eliphaz from Teman replied [to Job],
2 "If we attempt to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
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"If someone tries to talk to you, will you become impatient? But who can keep from talking?
3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
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Certainly, you have instructed many people: When hands were weak, you made them strong.
4 Thy words have upheld him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
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When someone stumbled, you lifted him up with your words. When knees were weak, you gave them strength.
5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
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But trouble comes to you, and you're impatient. It touches you, and you panic.
6 Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
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Doesn't your fear of God give you confidence and your lifetime of integrity give you hope?
7 "Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the righteous cut off?
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"Now think about this: Which innocent person [ever] died [an untimely death]? Find me a decent person who has been destroyed.
8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity and sow wickedness reap the same.
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Whenever I saw those who plowed wickedness and planted misery, they gathered its harvest.
9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of His nostrils are they consumed.
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God destroys them with his breath and kills them with a blast of his anger.
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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Though the roar of the lion and the growl of the ferocious lion [is loud], the young lions have had their teeth knocked out.
11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.
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The old lions die without any prey [to eat], and the cubs 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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"I was told something secretly and heard something whispered in my ear.
13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
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With disturbing thoughts from visions in the night, when deep sleep falls on people,
14 fear came upon me and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
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fear and trembling came over me, and all my bones shook.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up.
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A spirit passed in front of me. It made my hair stand 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,
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Something stood there. I couldn't tell what it was. A vague image was in front of my eyes. I heard a soft voice:
17 `Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?
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'Can [any] mortal be righteous to God? Can [any] human being be pure to his maker?'
18 Behold, He put no trust in His servants, and His angels He charged with folly:
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"You see, God doesn't trust his own servants, and he accuses his angels of making mistakes.
19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth?
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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!
20 They are destroyed from morning to evening; they perish for ever without any regarding it.
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From morning to evening, they are shattered. They will disappear forever without anyone paying attention.
21 Doth not their excellence which is in them go away? They die, even without wisdom.'
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Haven't the ropes of their tent been loosened? Won't they die without wisdom?
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.