1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

3Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

4Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

5But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

6Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

7Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

8Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

9By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

10The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

11The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.

12Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.

13In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,

14Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

15Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:

16It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image wasbefore mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

17Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?

18Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:

19How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?

20They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.

21Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, and said,

2If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieued? But who can withhold himselfe from speaking?

3Beholde, Thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weake hands.

4Thy words haue vpholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

5But now it is come vpon thee, and thou faintest, it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

6Is not this thy feare, thy confidence; the vprightnesse of thy wayes and thy hope?

7Remember, I pray thee, who euer perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

8Euen as I haue seene, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickednsse, reape the same.

9By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

10The roaring of the Lyon, and the voice of the fierce Lyon, and the teeth of the yong Lyons are broken.

11The old Lyon perisheth for lacke of pray, and the stout Lyons whelpes are scattered abroad.

12Nowe a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine eare receiued a litle thereof.

13In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deepe sleepe falleth on men:

14Feare came vpon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

15Then a spirit passed before my face: the haire of my flesh stood vp.

16It stood still, but I could not discerne the forme thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voyce, saying,

17Shall mortall man be more iust then God? shall a man bee more pure then his maker?

18Behold, hee put no trust in his seruants; and his Angels hee charged with folly:

19Howe much lesse on them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth.

20They are destroyed from morning to euening: they perish for euer, without any regarding it.

21Doeth not their excellencie which is in them, goe away? they die, euen without wisedome.

 

 

 

 

III == Isa 35:3

 

 

IV == Isa 35:3 ; Heb 12:12

 

 

 

VI == Job 1:1 ; Prov 3:26

 

VII Ps 37:25

 

 

VIII == Ps 7:14 ; Prov 22:8 ; Hos 10:13 ; Gal 6:7-8

IX == Ex 15:8

 

 

 

 

XI == Ps 34:10

 

 

 

 

XIII == Job 33:15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVII == Job 9:2

 

 

XVIII == Job 15:15 ; 25:5 ; 2nd Peter 2:4

 

XIX == Job 15:16 ; 2nd Cor 4:7 ; 5:1

 

XX == Ps 90:5-6

 

1 Then spoke Eliphaz the Temanite, who said:

2 If someone attempts a word with you, will you mind? For how can anyone refrain from speaking?

3 Behold, you have instructed many, and have made firm their feeble hands.

4 Your words have upheld the stumbler; you have strengthened his faltering knees.

5 But now that it comes to you, you are impatient; when it touches yourself, you are dismayed.

6 Is not your piety a source of confidence, and your integrity of life your hope?

7 Reflect now, what innocent person perishes? Since when are the upright destroyed?

8 As I see it, those who plow for mischief and sow trouble, reap the same.

9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his wrath they are consumed.

10 Though the lion roars, though the king of beasts cries out, yet the teeth of the young lions are broken;

11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

12 For a word was stealthily brought to me, and my ear caught a whisper of it.

13 In my thoughts during visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,

14 Fear came upon me, and shuddering, that terrified me to the bones.

15 Then a spirit passed before me, and the hair of my flesh stood up.

16 It paused, but its likeness I could not discern; a figure was before my eyes, and I heard a still voice:

17 "Can a man be righteous as against God? Can a mortal be blameless against his Maker?

18 Lo, he puts no trust in his servants, and with his angels he can find fault.

19 How much more with those that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed more easily than the moth!

20 Morning or evening they may be shattered; with no heed paid to it, they perish forever.

21 The pegs of their tent are plucked up; they die without knowing wisdom."

Chapters 4 and 5 contain the first accusations of Eliphaz. This is the beginning of three rounds of comments from the friends followed by Job’s answers to each one. Their reasoning is that all suffering is punishable by sin; Job is suffering; Therefore, Job is a sinner. In the first round they hint at Job’s sin and urge him to repent. In the second round they strongly insinuate as much. In the third round they openly accuse.

 

v 1,2. Eliphaz is probably the oldest of the three and speaks first, and in fact he can’t restrain from speaking. He feels Job is impatient with God, and implies he will be impatient with him.

v 3-6. He commends Job for being an instructor and helper to others, but implies that when trouble comes to him personally, he can’t take it.

v 7-11. This is an unfounded claim that innocent do not suffer, and he tries to back up his claim by his past observations, which were insufficient. Lions cause trouble and are punished, so Job has caused trouble and is being punished.

 

 

 

 

v 12-21. In case his observations should be in question, Eliphaz tells of a vision he had in the night. Surely no one would doubt a vision, especially his dramatization of the fear he felt. Nevertheless, it is suspect, being a secret thing and not indicated as the word of the Lord. If God was critical of His angels, the implication is that He would be even more critical of sinning Job. He doesn’t consider his own sins.