1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2 “ If one speaks with you, will you want him to stop? But who can keep from speaking?

3 S ee, you have taught many, and you have given strength to weak hands.

4 Y our words have helped him stand who would have fallen. You have given strength to weak knees.

5 B ut now it has come to you, and you are not happy. It touches you, and you are troubled and sad.

6 I s not your fear of God what gives you strength and your good ways that give you hope?

7 “ Think now, who without guilt was ever destroyed?

8 A s I have seen, those who plow sin and plant trouble gather the same.

9 B y the breath of God they are destroyed. They are destroyed by the wind of His anger.

10 T he noise of the lion, the voice of the angry lion, and the teeth of the young lions are broken.

11 T he strong lion dies because there is no food to get. And the young of the lioness are sent everywhere.

12 “ Now a word was brought to me in secret. My ear heard it spoken in a quiet voice.

13 W ith troubled thoughts from the dreams of the night, when deep sleep comes upon men,

14 f ear came to me and I shook. It made all my bones shake.

15 A spirit passed by my face. The hair of my flesh stood up.

16 T he spirit stood still, but I could not understand what I saw. Something was in front of my eyes. All was quiet, then I heard a voice:

17 ‘ Can man be right more than God? Can a man be pure more than his Maker?

18 H e puts no trust even in His servants. He finds mistakes among His angels.

19 H ow much more those who live in houses of clay, who build upon the dust, who are crushed like the moth!

20 B etween morning and evening they are destroyed. Without anyone seeing it they become lost forever.

21 I s not their tent-rope pulled up within them? They die, and have no wisdom.’