1Then Eliphaz the Temani answered and said,

2If we attempt a davar with thee, wilt thou be offended?
But who can withhold himself from speaking?

3Hinei, thou hast instructed rabbim (many),
and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

4Thy words have upheld him that was falling,
and thou hast strengthened the feeble birkayim (knees).

5But atah (now) it is come upon thee, and thou art impatient;
it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

6Is not this thy fear, thy confidence,
thy tikveh, and the blamelessness of thy ways?

7Consider now, who ever perished, being naki (innocent)?
Or where were the yesharim (upright ones) cut off?

8Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity,
and sow amal (trouble), reap the same.

9By the neshamah (breath) of Eloah they perish,
and by the ruach of His nostrils are they consumed.

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

11The old lion perisheth for lack of teref (prey),
and the stout lionʼs cubs are scattered.

12Now a davar was secretly brought to me,
and mine ear received a whisper thereof.

13In thoughts from the chezyonot lailah,
when tardemah (deep sleep) falleth on anashim,

14Pachad came upon me, and trembling,
which made all my atzmot to shake.

15Then a ruach passed before my face;
the hair of my basar stood up;

16It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof;
a temunah (form) was before mine eyes,
there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

17Shall enosh (mortal man) be seen as righteous by Eloah?
Shall a man be tahor before his Maker? ¹

18Behold, He puts no trust in His avadim,
and His malachim (angels) He charged with toholah (error).

19How much more them that dwell in batim (houses) of clay,
whose yesod (foundation, origin) is in the dust,
which are crushed like the moth?

20They are destroyed from boker to erev;
they perish forever without any regarding it.

21Is not the cord of their tent which is in them pulled up?
They die, even without chochmah (wisdom).