Eliphaz's Night Vision
Job 4
Eliphaz the Thaemanite speaks first, reminding Job that he once strengthened others and asking whether any truly innocent person has ever perished. He recounts a night vision in which a voice asked whether any mortal can be pure or blameless before the Lord, since even God's servants and angels are found wanting.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonHERE Eliphaz the Thaimanite, interrupting him, said:
BrentonThen Eliphaz the Thæmanite answered and said,
GreekὙπολαβὼν δὲ Ἐλιφὰς ὁ Θαιμανίτης, λέγει,
KJVThen Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
JPSThen answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
2
ThomsonShould frequent replies be made to thee in distress? But who can bear the vehemence of thy words?
BrentonHast thou been often spoken to in distress? but who shall endure the force of thy words?
GreekΜὴ πολλάκις σοι λελάληται ἐν κόπῳ; ἰσχὺν δὲ ῥημάτων σου τίς ὑποίσει;
KJV—
JPS—
3
ThomsonFor if thou hast instructed many; and strengthened hands which were weak; and raised up with words them who were fainting;
BrentonFor whereas thou hast instructed many, and hast strengthened the hands of the weak one,
GreekΕἰ γὰρ σὺ ἐνουθέτησας πολλοὺς, καὶ χεῖρας ἀσθενοῦς παρεκάλεσας,
KJVBehold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
JPSBehold, thou hast instructed many, And thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
4
Thomsonand given courage to knees which were strengthless;
Brentonand hast supported the failing with words, and hast imparted courage to feeble knees.
Greekἀσθενοῦντάς τε ἐξανέστησας ῥήμασι, γόνασί τε ἀδυνατοῦσι θάρσος περιέθηκας.
KJVThy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
JPSThy words have upholden him that was falling, And thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
5
Thomsonbut now, when trouble hath come upon thee and touched thee, thou art impatient:
BrentonYet now that pain has come upon thee, and touched thee, thou art troubled.
GreekΝῦν δὲ ἥκει ἐπὶ σὲ πόνος καὶ ἥψατό σου, σὺ ἐσπούδασας.
KJVBut now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
JPSBut now it is come upon thee, and thou art weary; It toucheth thee, and thou art affrighted.
6
Thomsonis not either thy fear grounded on folly—or thy hope? And this calamity the effect of thy conduct?
BrentonIs not thy fear founded in folly, thy hope also, and the mischief of thy way?
GreekΠότερον οὐχ ὁ φόβος σου ἐστὶν ἐν ἀφροσύνῃ, καὶ ἡ ἐλπίς σου καὶ ἡ κακία τῆς ὁδοῦ σου;
KJVIs not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
JPSIs not thy fear of God thy confidence, And thy hope the integrity of thy ways?
7
ThomsonRecollect therefore. Who ever perished, being innocent? Or when were the righteous utterly destroyed?
BrentonRemember then who has perished, being pure? or when were the true-hearted utterly destroyed?
GreekΜνήσθητι οὖν, τίς καθαρὸς ὢν ἀπώλετο, ἢ πότε ἀληθινοὶ ὁλόῤῥιζοι ἀπώλοντο;
KJVRemember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
JPSRemember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
8
ThomsonAs I have seen men ploughing improper grounds: they who sow such places shall reap sorrows.
BrentonAccordingly as I have seen men ploughing barren places, and they that sow them will reap sorrows for themselves.
GreekΚαθʼ ὃν τρόπον εἶδον τοὺς ἀροτριῶντας τὰ ἄτοπα, οἱ δὲ σπείροντες αὐτὰ ὀδύνας θεριοῦσιν ἑαυτοῖς.
KJVEven as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
JPSAccording as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, And sow mischief, reap the same.
9
ThomsonBy the decree of the Lord they shall perish; and by the blast of His ire be utterly consumed.
BrentonThey shall perish by the command of the Lord, and shall be utterly consumed by the breath of his wrath.
GreekἈπὸ προστάγματος Κυρίου ἀπολοῦνται, ἀπὸ δὲ πνεύματος ὀργῆς αὐτοῦ ἀφανισθήσονται.
KJVBy the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
JPSBy the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of His anger are they consumed.
10
ThomsonThe strength of a lion and the roaring of a lioness and the boastful pride of dragons have been extinguished.
BrentonThe strength of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the exulting cry of serpents are quenched.
GreekΣθένος λέοντος, φωνὴ δὲ λεαίνης, γαυρίαμα δὲ δρακόντων ἐσβέσθη.
KJVThe roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
JPS—
11
ThomsonThe old lions have perished for want of food: and young lions have forsaken each other.
BrentonThe old lion has perished for want of food, and the lions' whelps have forsaken one another.
GreekΜυρμηκολέων ὤλετο παρὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν βορὰν, σκύμνοι δὲ λεόντων ἔλιπον ἀλλήλους.
KJVThe old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.
JPSThe old lion perisheth for lack of prey, And the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.
12
ThomsonBut had there been any truth in thy words none of these evils would have happened to thee.
BrentonBut if there had been any truth in thy words, none of these evils would have befallen thee. Shall not mine ear receive excellent revelations from him?
GreekΕἰ δέ τι ῥῆμα ἀληθινὸν ἐγεγόνει ἐν λόγοις σου, οὐθὲν ἄν σοι τούτων κακὸν ἀπήντησε· πότερον οὐ δέξεταί μου τὸ οὖς ἐξαίσια παρʼ αὐτοῦ;
KJV—
JPS—
13
ThomsonShould not my ear receive unusual things coming from him? At a dreadful sound by night, when terror appalleth men,
BrentonBut as when terror falls upon men, with dread and a sound in the night,
GreekΦόβῳ δὲ καὶ ἤχῳ νυκτερινῇ ἐπιπίπτων φόβος ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους,
KJVIn thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
JPSIn thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falleth on men,
14
ThomsonI was seized with a horror and trembling, which gave a violent shaking to my bones.
Brentonhorror and trembling seized me, and caused all my bones greatly to shake.
Greekφρίκη μοι συνήντησεν καὶ τρόμος, καὶ μεγάλως μου τὰ ὀστᾶ διέσεισε,
KJVFear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
JPSFear came upon me, and trembling, And all my bones were made to shake. .
15
ThomsonA wind indeed blew full in my face, and my hair stood erect and my flesh quivered.
BrentonAnd a spirit came before my face; and my hair and flesh quivered.
Greekκαὶ πνεῦμα ἐπὶ πρόσωπόν μου ἐπῆλθεν, ἔφριξαν δέ μου τρίχες καὶ σάρκες.
KJVThen a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
JPSThen a spirit passed before my face, That made the hair of my flesh to stand up.
16
ThomsonI started up, but could perceive nothing: I looked, but there was no form before my eyes. I only heard a sound and a voice, saying:
BrentonI arose and perceived it not: I looked, and there was no form before my eyes: but I only heard a breath and a voice, saying,
GreekἈνέστην καὶ οὐκ ἐπέγνων, εἶδον καὶ οὐκ ἦν μορφὴ πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν μου, ἀλλʼ ἢ αὖραν καὶ φωνὴν ἤκουον.
KJVIt stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
JPSIt stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; A form was before mine eyes; I heard a still voice:
17
ThomsonWhat! can a mortal be pure before the Lord, or a man by his works be blameless?
BrentonWhat, shall a mortal be pure before the Lord? or a man be blameless in regard to his works?
GreekΤί γάρ; μὴ καθαρὸς ἔσται βροτὸς ἐναντίον τοῦ Κυρίου; ἢ ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ ἄμεμπτος ἀνήρ;
KJVShall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
JPS’Shall mortal man be just before God? Shall a man be pure before his Maker?
18
ThomsonIf in His servants He placeth not confidence, and in His angels perceiveth some blemish:
BrentonWhereas he trusts not in his servants, and perceives perverseness in his angels.
GreekΕἰ κατὰ παίδων αὐτοῦ οὐ πιστεύει, κατὰ δὲ ἀγγέλων αὐτοῦ σκολιόν τι ἐπενόησε.
KJVBehold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
JPSBehold, He putteth no trust in His servants, And His angels He chargeth with folly;
19
Thomsonhow should He treat them who dwell in houses of clay (of which clay we indeed are), but as worms?
BrentonBut as for them that dwell in houses of clay, of whom we also are formed of the same clay, he smites them like a moth.
GreekΤοὺς δὲ κατοικοῦντας οἰκίας πηλίνας, ἐξ ὧν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ πηλοῦ ἐσμεν, ἔπαισεν αὐτοὺς σητὸς τρόπον,
KJVHow much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
JPSHow much more them that dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!
20
ThomsonBut from morning till noon——and they are no more.
BrentonAnd from morning to evening they no longer exist: they have perished, because they cannot help themselves.
Greekκαὶ ἀπὸ πρωΐθεν μέχρι ἑσπέρας οὐκ ἔτι εἰσὶ, παρὰ τὸ μὴ δύνασθαι αὐτοὺς ἑαυτοῖς βοηθῆσαι, ἀπώλοντο.
KJVThey are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.
JPS—
21
ThomsonBecause they could not help themselves they were destroyed. For He blowed on them and they withered: they perished because they had not wisdom.
BrentonFor he blows upon them, and they are withered: they have perished for lack of wisdom.
GreekἘνεφύσησε γὰρ αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐξηράνθησαν, ἀπώλοντο παρὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν αὐτοὺς σοφίαν.
KJV—
JPS—