1 B ut Job answered and said,

Then Job answered,

2 H ear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

“Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be your way of consolation.

3 S uffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

“Bear with me that I may speak; Then after I have spoken, you may mock.

4 A s for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

“As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?

5 M ark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

“Look at me, and be astonished, And put your hand over your mouth.

6 E ven when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

“Even when I remember, I am disturbed, And horror takes hold of my flesh.

7 W herefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

“Why do the wicked still live, Continue on, also become very powerful?

8 T heir seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

“Their descendants are established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes,

9 T heir houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

Their houses are safe from fear, And the rod of God is not on them.

10 T heir bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

“His ox mates without fail; His cow calves and does not abort.

11 T hey send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

“They send forth their little ones like the flock, And their children skip about.

12 T hey take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

“They sing to the timbrel and harp And rejoice at the sound of the flute.

13 T hey spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

“They spend their days in prosperity, And suddenly they go down to Sheol.

14 T herefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

“They say to God, ‘ Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.

15 W hat is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

‘ Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, And what would we gain if we entreat Him?’

16 L o, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

“Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17 H ow oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

“How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, Or does their calamity fall on them? Does God apportion destruction in His anger?

18 T hey are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

“Are they as straw before the wind, And like chaff which the storm carries away?

19 G od layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

“ You say, ‘ God stores away a man’s iniquity for his sons.’ Let God repay him so that he may know it.

20 H is eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

“Let his own eyes see his decay, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21 F or what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

“For what does he care for his household after him, When the number of his months is cut off?

22 S hall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

“Can anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high?

23 O ne dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

“One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and satisfied;

24 H is breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

His sides are filled out with fat, And the marrow of his bones is moist,

25 A nd another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.

While another dies with a bitter soul, Never even tasting anything good.

26 T hey shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

“Together they lie down in the dust, And worms cover them.

27 B ehold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

“Behold, I know your thoughts, And the plans by which you would wrong me.

28 F or ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

“For you say, ‘Where is the house of the nobleman, And where is the tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?’

29 H ave ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

“Have you not asked wayfaring men, And do you not recognize their witness?

30 t hat the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

“For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity; They will be led forth at the day of fury.

31 W ho shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

“Who will confront him with his actions, And who will repay him for what he has done?

32 Y et shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.

“While he is carried to the grave, Men will keep watch over his tomb.

33 T he clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

“The clods of the valley will gently cover him; Moreover, all men will follow after him, While countless ones go before him.

34 H ow then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?

“How then will you vainly comfort me, For your answers remain full of falsehood?”