Job 4:2 "If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? But who can keep from speaking?

◄ Job 4:2 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
"If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? But who can keep from speaking?

English Standard Version
“If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? Yet who can keep from speaking?

New American Standard Bible
"If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient? But who can refrain from speaking?

King James Bible
If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Should anyone try to speak with you when you are exhausted? Yet who can keep from speaking?

International Standard Version
"Will you get offended if somebody tries to talk to you? Who can keep from speaking at a time like this?

American Standard Version
If one assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

Douay-Rheims Bible
If we begin to speak to thee, perhaps thou wilt take it ill, but who can withhold the words he hath conceived?

Darby Bible Translation
If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?

Young's Literal Translation
Hath one tried a word with thee? -- Thou art weary! And to keep in words who is able?

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

4:1-6 Satan undertook to prove Job a hypocrite by afflicting him; and his friends concluded him to be one because he was so afflicted, and showed impatience. This we must keep in mind if we would understand what passed. Eliphaz speaks of Job, and his afflicted condition, with tenderness; but charges him with weakness and faint-heartedness. Men make few allowances for those who have taught others. Even pious friends will count that only a touch which we feel as a wound. Learn from hence to draw off the mind of a sufferer from brooding over the affliction, to look at the God of mercies in the affliction. And how can this be done so well as by looking to Christ Jesus, in whose unequalled sorrows every child of God soonest learns to forget his own?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

2. If we assay to commune—Rather, two questions, "May we attempt a word with thee? Wilt thou be grieved at it?" Even pious friends often count that only a touch which we feel as a wound.