1Eliphaz reproveth Job for want of religious trust: 7he remindeth him that God's judgments are not for the righteous, but for the wicked. 12His fearful vision, designed to humble the vain opinion of man's excellency in the sight of his Maker.
1aTHEN Eliphaz the Temanite banswered and said,
a ch. 2.11. b ch. 3.1,2; 6.1; 8.1.
2If we *assay 1to commune with thee, wilt thou cbe grieved? but 2who can withhold himself from speaking?
*assay-try, attempt.
1Heb. a word.
2Heb. who can refrain from words?
c 2Ti. 4.3.
3Behold, dthou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
d Ge. 18.19. Is. 35.3,4. He. 12.12. 1Th. 5.14.
4Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened 3the feeble knees.
3Heb. the bowing knees.
5But now eit is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
e ch. 3.25,26; 1.11-19; 2.5,7.
6Is not this fthy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
f ch. 1.1; 17.15. Pr. 3.26. 2Ki. 20.3.
7gRemember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
g 2Sa. 16.8. Ac. 28.4. Ps. 7.14. Je. 2.17,19; 4.18. Ga. 6.7,8. Is. 3.10,11. Ro. 2.7-10.
8Even as I have seen, hthey that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
h Ga. 6.7,8. Ho. 10.13.
9By the blast of God they perish, and 4by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
4That is, by his anger, Is. 30.33; 11.4. Ex. 15.8. ch. 1.19; 15.30. Ps. 18.8; 68.1,2; 37.20. 2Th. 2.8.
10The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the iteeth of the young lions, are broken.
i Ps. 58.6; 3.7. ch. 29.17.
11The jold lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the *stout lion's whelps are scattered *abroad.
*stout-bold.
*abroad-over a wide area.
j Ps. 34.10; 57.4. 2Ti. 4.17. Eze. 19.
12kNow a thing was 5secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.
5Heb. by stealth.
k Ps. 62.11. 1Co. 13.12.
13In lthoughts from the visions of the night, when mdeep sleep falleth on men,
l ch. 33.15,16. Da. 2.19,29; 4.5. Nu. 22.19,20; 12.6. Ge. 40; 41. m Ge. 2.21. Jonah 1.5. 1Sa. 26.12.
14nFear 6came upon me, and trembling, which made 7all my bones to shake.
6Heb. met me.
7Heb. the multitude of my bones.
n ch. 7.14. Is. 6.5. Da. 10.8. Hab. 3.16. Re. 1.17.
15Then a ospirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
o Ps. 104.4. He. 1.14.
16It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, 8there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying ,
8Or, I heard a still voice, 1Ki. 19.12.
17Shall pmortal man be more just 9than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
9Or, before.
p ch. 14.1; 9.2. Ps. 130.3; 143.2. Ec. 7.20. Ja. 3.2.
18Behold, qhe put no trust in his servants; 10and his angels he charged with folly:
10Or, nor in his angels, in whom he put light.
q ch. 15.15; 25.5. Ps. 103.21; 104.4. 2Pe. 2.4.
19How much less in them that dwell in rhouses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before sthe moth?
r 2Co. 5.1. ch. 10.9; 13.12; 33.6. Ec. 12.7. Ge. 3.19. s ch. 13.28.
20They are 11destroyed from morning to evening: they tperish for ever without any regarding it.
11Heb. beaten in pieces, Ps. 90.5,6. Is. 38.12.
t ch. 14.14; 16.22. Ps. 39.13.
21Doth not utheir excellency which is in them go away? they die, even vwithout wisdom.
u Ge. 49.3. Ps. 39.11; 49.14; 146.3,4. v Ps. 49.20. ch. 36.12. Is. 2.22. Lu. 12.20.