Job 4

“Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,” Naming Eliphaz and Temanite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.” The line’s distinctive content terms include hands, instructed, strengthened. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.” Naming Thy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.” The line’s distinctive content terms include faintest, toucheth, troubled. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.” Naming Even keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.” The line’s distinctive content terms include lion, broken, fierce. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.” The line’s distinctive content terms include abroad, lack, lion. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.” The line’s distinctive content terms include little, received, secretly. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,” The line’s distinctive content terms include deep, falleth, night. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.” Naming Fear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:” The line’s distinctive content terms include face, flesh, hair. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I…” The line’s distinctive content terms include discern, eyes, form. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.” The line’s distinctive content terms include destroyed, evening, morning. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.