| Chapter 4 |
1 |
And Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,
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2 |
If one says a word, will it be a weariness to you? but who is able to keep from saying what is in his mind?
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3 |
Truly, you have been a helper to others, and you have made feeble hands strong;
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4 |
He who was near to falling has been lifted up by your words, and you have given strength to bent knees.
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5 |
But now it has come on you and it is a weariness to you; you are touched by it and your mind is troubled.
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6 |
Is not your fear of God your support, and your upright way of life your hope?
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7 |
Have you ever seen destruction come to an upright man? or when were the god-fearing ever cut off?
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8 |
What I have seen is that those by whom trouble has been ploughed, and evil planted, get the same for themselves.
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9 |
By the breath of God destruction takes them, and by the wind of his wrath they are cut off.
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10 |
Though the noise of the lion and the sounding of his voice, may be loud, the teeth of the young lions are broken.
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11 |
The old lion comes to his end for need of food, and the young of the she-lion go wandering in all directions.
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12 |
A word was given to me secretly, and the low sound of it came to my ears.
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13 |
In troubled thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep comes on men,
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14 |
Fear came on me and shaking, and my bones were full of trouble;
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15 |
And a breath was moving over my face; the hair of my flesh became stiff:
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16 |
Something was present before me, but I was not able to see it clearly; there was a form before my eyes: a quiet voice came to my ears, saying:
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17 |
May a man be upright before God? or a man be clean before his Maker?
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18 |
Truly, he puts no faith in his servants, and he sees error in his angels;
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19 |
How much more those living in houses of earth, whose bases are in the dust! They are crushed more quickly than an insect;
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20 |
Between morning and evening they are completely broken; they come to an end for ever, and no one takes note.
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21 |
If their tent-cord is pulled up, do they not come to an end, and without wisdom?
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