Job 4

2Should frequent replies be made to thee in distress? But who can bear the vehemence of thy words?

3For if thou hast instructed many; and strengthened hands which were weak; and raised up with words them who were fainting;

4and given courage to knees which were strengthless;

5but now, when trouble hath come upon thee and touched thee, thou art impatient:

6is not either thy fear grounded on folly—or thy hope? And this calamity the effect of thy conduct?

7Recollect therefore. Who ever perished, being innocent? Or when were the righteous utterly destroyed?

8As I have seen men ploughing improper grounds: they who sow such places shall reap sorrows.

9By the decree of the Lord they shall perish; and by the blast of His ire be utterly consumed.

10The strength of a lion and the roaring of a lioness and the boastful pride of dragons have been extinguished.

11The old lions have perished for want of food: and young lions have forsaken each other.

12But had there been any truth in thy words none of these evils would have happened to thee.

14I was seized with a horror and trembling, which gave a violent shaking to my bones.

15A wind indeed blew full in my face, and my hair stood erect and my flesh quivered.

16I 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:

17What! can a mortal be pure before the Lord, or a man by his works be blameless?

18If in His servants He placeth not confidence, and in His angels perceiveth some blemish:

19how should He treat them who dwell in houses of clay (of which clay we indeed are), but as worms?

20But from morning till noon——and they are no more.

21Because they could not help themselves they were destroyed. For He blowed on them and they withered: they perished because they had not wisdom.