Eliphaz on Divine Correction
Job 5
Eliphaz continues, describing how the households of the foolish come to ruin while the just gather what they leave behind, and urging Job instead to seek the Lord, who does great and unsearchable things. He declares blessed the man whom the Lord corrects, promising deliverance from many troubles and a flourishing household in the end.
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
ThomsonAPPEAL now, will anyone answer. Or shalt thou see any of the holy angels?
BrentonBut call, if any one will hearken to thee, or if thou shalt see any of the holy angels.
GreekἘπικαλέσαι δὲ εἴ τις σοι ὑπακούσεται, ἢ εἴ τινα ἀγγέλων ἁγίων ὄψῃ·
KJV—
JPSCall now; is there any that will answer thee? And to which of the holy ones wilt thou turn?
2
Thomson—
BrentonFor wrath destroys the foolish one, and envy slays him that has gone astray.
GreekΚαὶ γὰρ ἄφρονα ἀναιρεῖ ὀργὴ, πεπλανημένον δὲ θανατοῖ ζῆλος.
KJVFor wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.
JPSFor anger killeth the foolish man, And envy slayeth the silly one.
3
ThomsonNow I have seen the foolish taking root, but their sustenance was quickly consumed.
BrentonAnd I have seen foolish ones taking root: but suddenly their habitation was devoured.
GreekἘγὼ δὲ ἑώρακα ἄφρονας ῥίζαν βάλλοντας, ἀλλʼ εὐθέως ἐβρώθη αὐτῶν ἡ δίαιτα.
KJVI have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation.
JPSI have seen the foolish taking root; But suddenly I beheld his habitation cursed.
4
ThomsonLet their children be but far from safety, and insulted at the gates of minors, there will then be none to deliver them.
BrentonLet their children be far from safety, and let them be crushed at the doors of vile men, and let there be no deliverer.
GreekΠόῤῥω γένοιντο οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτῶν ἀπὸ σωτηρίας, κολαβρισθείησαν δὲ ἐπὶ θύραις ἡσσόνων, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ ἐξαιρούμενος.
KJVHis children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.
JPSHis children are far from safety, And are crushed in the gate, with none to deliver them.
5
ThomsonFor what they have collected the righteous shall eat. Nor will they themselves be exempt from wrongs, should their power be exhausted.
BrentonFor what they have collected, the just shall eat; but they shall not be delivered out of calamities: let their strength be utterly exhausted.
GreekἋ γὰρ ἐκεῖνοι συνήγαγον, δίκαιοι ἔδονται, αὐτοὶ δὲ ἐκ κακῶν οὐκ ἐξαίρετοι ἔσονται· ἐκσιφωνισθείη αὐτῶν ἡ ἰσχύς.
KJV—
JPS—
6
ThomsonFor trouble cannot come forth out of the earth; nor will affliction spring up from mountains.
BrentonFor labour cannot by any means come out of the earth, nor shall trouble spring out of the mountains:
GreekΟὐ γὰρ μὴ ἐξέλθῃ ἐκ τῆς γῆς κόπος, οὐδὲ ἐξ ὀρέων ἀναβλαστήσει πόνος.
KJV—
JPS—
7
ThomsonBut man is born for trouble, as the young of the vulture soar aloft;
Brentonyet man is born to labour, and even so the vulture's young seek the high places.
GreekἈλλὰ ἄνθρωπος γεννᾶται κόπῳ, νεοσσοὶ δὲ γυπὸς τὰ ὑψηλὰ πέτονται.
KJVYet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
JPSBut man is born unto trouble, As the sparks fly upward.
8
Thomsonbut notwithstanding this, let me supplicate the Lord; and call upon the Lord, the master of all,
BrentonNevertheless I will beseech the Lord, and will call upon the Lord, the sovereign of all;
GreekΟὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλὰ ἐγὼ δεηθήσομαι Κυρίου, Κύριον δὲ τὸν πάντων δεσπότην ἐπικαλέσομαι,
KJV—
JPS—
9
ThomsonWho doth great and unsearchable things—things glorious and wonderful, not to be numbered.
Brentonwho does great things and untraceable, glorious things also, and marvellous, of which there is no number:
Greekτὸν ποιοῦντα μεγάλα καὶ ἀνεξιχνίαστα, ἔνδοξά τε καὶ ἐξαίσια, ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν ἀριθμὸς,
KJVWhich doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:
JPSWho doeth great things and unsearchable, Marvellous things without number;
10
ThomsonWho giveth rain on the earth and sendeth water on all under heaven.
Brentonwho gives rain upon the earth, sending water on the earth:
Greekτὸν διδόντα ὑετὸν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, ἀποστέλλοντα ὕδωρ ἐπὶ τὴν ὑπʼ οὐρανὸν,
KJVWho giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:
JPSWho giveth rain upon the earth, And sendeth waters upon the fields;
11
ThomsonWho setteth on high them who are low, and raiseth up them who have been ruined.
Brentonwho exalts the lowly, and raises up them that are lost:
Greekτὸν ποιοῦντα ταπεινοὺς εἰς ὕψος, καὶ ἀπολωλότας ἐξεγείροντα,
KJV—
JPS—
12
ThomsonWho changeth the counsels of the crafty, so that their hands can perform no enterprise.
Brentonfrustrating the counsels of the crafty, and their hands shall not perform the truth:
Greekδιαλλάσσοντα βουλὰς πανούργων, καὶ οὐ μὴ ποιήσουσιν αἱ χεῖρες αὐτῶν ἀληθές·
KJVHe disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
JPSHe frustrateth the devices of the crafty, So that their hands can perform nothing substantial.
13
ThomsonWho entangleth the wise in their wisdom, and defeateth the counsel of the artful.
Brentonwho takes the wise in their wisdom, and subverts the counsel of the crafty.
Greekὁ καταλαμβάνων σοφοὺς ἐν τῇ φρονήσει, βουλὴν δὲ πολυπλόκων ἐξέστησεν.
KJV—
JPS—
14
ThomsonIn the daytime, darkness shall meet them, that they may grope at noonday as at night,
BrentonIn the day darkness shall come upon them, and let them grope in the noon-day even as in the night:
GreekἩμέρας συναντήσεται αὐτοῖς σκότος, τὸ δὲ μεσημβρινὸν ψηλαφήσαισαν ἶσα νυκτὶ,
KJVThey meet with darkness in the day time, and grope in the noonday as in the night.
JPSThey meet with darkness in the day-time, And grope at noonday as in the night. .
15
Thomsonand that they may perish in battle, and the weak escape from the hand of the mighty.
Brentonand let them perish in war, and let the weak escape from the hand of the mighty.
Greekἀπόλοιντο δὲ ἐν πολέμῳ· ἀδύνατος δὲ ἐξέλθοι ἐκ χειρὸς δυνάστου.
KJVBut he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.
JPSBut He saveth from the sword of their mouth, Even the needy from the hand of the mighty.
16
ThomsonAnd that the feeble may have hope, and the mouth of the wicked be stopped.
BrentonAnd let the weak have hope, but the mouth of the unjust be stopped.
GreekΕἴη δὲ ἀδυνάτῳ ἐλπὶς, ἀδίκου δὲ στόμα ἐμφραχθείη.
KJVSo the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
JPSSo the poor hath hope, And iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
17
ThomsonBut happy the man whom the Lord correcteth. Therefore despise not thou the correction of the Almighty.
BrentonBut blessed is the man whom the Lord has reproved; and reject not thou the chastening of the Almighty.
GreekΜακάριος δὲ ἄνθρωπος ὃν ἤλεγξεν ὁ Κύριος, νουθέτημα δὲ παντοκράτορος μὴ ἀπαναίνου.
KJVBehold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
JPSBehold, happy is the man whom God correcteth; Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.
18
ThomsonFor He causeth pain and again removeth it: and him whom He smote, His hands have healed.
BrentonFor he causes a man to be in pain, and restores him again: he smites, and his hands heal.
GreekΑὐτὸς γὰρ ἀλγεῖν ποιεῖ, καὶ πάλιν ἀποκαθίστησιν· ἔπαισε, καὶ αἱ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ ἰάσαντο.
KJV—
JPS—
19
ThomsonFrom six distresses He will deliver thee, and in the seventh evil shall not touch thee.
BrentonSix times he shall deliver thee out of distresses: and in the seventh harm shall not touch thee.
GreekἙξάκις ἐξ ἀναγκῶν σε ἐξελεῖται, ἐν δὲ τῷ ἑβδόμῳ οὐ μὴ ἅψηταί σου κακόν.
KJVHe shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
JPSHe will deliver thee in six troubles; Yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
20
ThomsonIn famine He will deliver thee from death, and in battle save thee from the edge of the sword.
BrentonIn famine he shall deliver thee from death: and in war he shall free thee from the power of the sword.
GreekἘν λιμῷ ῥύσεταί σε ἐκ θανάτου, ἐν πολέμῳ δὲ ἐκ χειρὸς σιδήρου λύσει σε.
KJVIn famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.
JPSIn famine He will redeem thee from death; And in war from the power of the sword.
21
ThomsonHe will hide thee from the scourge of the tongue: and thou need’st not be afraid of impending ills.
BrentonHe shall hide thee from the scourge of the tongue: and thou shalt not be afraid of coming evils.
GreekἈπὸ μάστιγος γλώσσης σε κρύψει, καὶ οὐ μὴ φοβηθῇς ἀπὸ κακῶν ἐρχομένων.
KJVThou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
JPSThou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue; Neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
22
ThomsonAt the wicked and unrighteous thou shalt laugh:
BrentonThou shalt laugh at the unrighteous and the lawless: and thou shalt not be afraid of wild beasts.
GreekἈδίκων καὶ ἀνόμων καταγελάσῃ· ἀπὸ δὲ θηρίων ἀγρίων οὐ μὴ φοβηθῇς·
KJVAt destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
JPSAt destruction and famine thou shalt laugh; Neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
23
Thomsonand of savage beasts need’st not be afraid; for the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
BrentonFor the wild beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
GreekΘῆρες γὰρ ἄγριοι εἰρηνεύσουσί σοι.
KJVFor thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
JPSFor thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
24
ThomsonThou shalt know that thy family is at peace, and that the provision for thy household shall not fail.
BrentonThen shalt thou know that thy house shall be at peace, and the provision for thy tabernacle shall not fail.
GreekΕἶτα γνώσῃ ὅτι εἰρηνεύσει σου ὁ οἶκος· ἡ δὲ δίαιτα τῆς σκηνῆς σου οὐ μὴ ἁμάρτῃ.
KJVAnd thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.
JPSAnd thou shalt know that thy tent is in peace; And thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt miss nothing.
25
ThomsonThou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great: thy children shall be like the grass of the field.
BrentonAnd thou shalt know that thy seed shall be abundant; and thy children shall be like the herbage of the field.
GreekΓνώσῃ δὲ ὅτι πολὺ τὸ σπέρμα σου, τὰ δὲ τέκνα σου ἔσται ὥσπερ τὸ παμβότανον τοῦ ἀγροῦ.
KJVThou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.
JPSThou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, And thine offspring as the grass of the earth.
26
ThomsonAnd thou shalt come to the grave like ripe grain cut in due season; or like a heap from a threshing floor, carried home in time.
BrentonAnd thou shalt come to the grave like ripe corn reaped in its season, or as a heap of the corn-flour collected in proper time.
GreekἘλεύσῃ δὲ ἐν τάφῳ ὥσπερ σῖτος ὥριμος κατὰ καιρὸν θεριζόμενος, ἢ ὥσπερ θιμωνία ἅλωνος καθʼ ὥραν συγκομισθεῖσα.
KJVThou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.
JPSThou shalt come to thy grave in a ripe age, Like as a shock of corn cometh in in its season.
27
ThomsonBehold these are the things which, by investigation, we have found to be so. These are things which we have heard: apply them to thyself, if thou hast done anything.
BrentonBehold, we have thus sought out these matters; these are what we have heard: but do thou reflect with thyself, if thou hast done anything wrong.
GreekἸδοὺ ταῦτα οὕτως ἐξιχνιάσαμεν· ταῦτά ἐστιν ἃ ἀκηκόαμεν· σὺ δὲ γνῶθι σεαυτῷ, εἴ τι ἔπραξας.
KJV—
JPS—