| Chapter 4 |
1 | And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
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2 | If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?
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3 | Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;
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4 | Thy words have upholden him that was stumbling, and thou hast braced up the bending knees:
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5 | But now it is come upon thee, and thou grievest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
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6 | Hath not thy piety been thy confidence, and the perfection of thy ways thy hope?
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7 | Remember, I pray thee, who that was innocent has perished? and where were the upright cut off?
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8 | Even as I have seen, they that plough iniquity and sow mischief, reap the same.
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9 | By the breath of +God they perish, and by the blast of his nostrils are they consumed.
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10 | The roar of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken;
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11 | The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
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12 | Now to me a word was secretly brought, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
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13 | In thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men: --
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14 | Fear came on me, and trembling, and made all my bones to shake;
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15 | And a spirit passed before my face -- the hair of my flesh stood up --
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16 | It stood still; I could not discern the appearance thereof: a form was before mine eyes; I heard a slight murmur and a voice:
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17 | Shall [mortal] man be more just than +God? Shall a man be purer than his Maker?
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18 | Lo, he trusteth not his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly:
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19 | How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed as the moth!
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20 | From morning to evening are they smitten: without any heeding it, they perish for ever.
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21 | Is not their tent-cord torn away in them? they die, and without wisdom.
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