Job 4:1 says, Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,  After a week of silence, and then listening to Job's speech, one of his friends finally spoke.  When we are suffering and crying out for reason in life, we can only hope that our friends will offer us comfort.  This was not the case with Job's friends though. Verse two adds, If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?  Eliphaz asked Job if he would be offended if they spoke, but then seemed to say that he had to speak whatever Job said.  I believe that by asking if Job would be grieved by his speaking to him, Eliphaz was letting Job know that what he was going to say might not comfort him.  If Eliphaz was going to speak words of comfort, then there would be there would be no reason for Job to be grieved.  If we see someone suffering today, especially a fellow Christian, if we cannot offer words of comfort, it is better to just remain quiet.  Verse three continues, Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.  Eliphaz begins by talking about the good things Job had done.  Job had not only taught others, but he had helped the weak, those in need.  In his present condition, Job may have needed to hear this, especially when he was regretting even being born. When those around us are suffering so much that they question life, then we may need to remind them of the good they have done life.  Verse four states, Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.  Eliphaz continues to talk about the good things Job has done.  So far, it seems that he is simply trying to encourage Job.   Verse five Eliphaz adds, But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.  Eliphaz had been encouraging Job until he got to the but, and then his tone changed.  Hopefully, if we are attempting to help those around us who are suffering for no apparent reason, we will not try to place the blame for the suffering on their actions.  Eliphaz told Job that even though Job had helped others in their time of suffering, that when Job began to suffer, he fainted and was troubled.  We may not know the full burden that a person is bearing when they seem to be about ready to give up on everything, but we do not need to tell them that it is a lack of faith that got them into that position.  Verse six continues, Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?  I believe that Eliphaz was asking Job if he didn't know that his lack of faith and honesty in living his life had led him this point.  Verse seven says, Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?  Eliphaz was saying that the innocent didn't suffer nor were the righteous cut off.  We today may question what a Christian has done wrong if they are suffering, but we must remember that Job had only done what was right in the view of God.  We cannot allow material success or failure to be the way we determine a person's faith in God.  Verse eight adds, Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.  Eliphaz was basically saying that Job through some act that he had done had brought this suffering upon himself.  This is the concept of a prosperity gospel, which teaches that if we follow God, He will reward us materially.  This is not what Jesus taught.  Verse nine continues, By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.  Eliphaz was basically saying that if a person was suffering it was because God was punishing them for some sin.  We need to remember that until Christ returns that Satan has been given power in the world to attempt to turn people away from God, and that evil is caused by him and not by God.