1 T hen Job answered and said,

2 H ear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations.

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

4 A s 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.

6 E ven when I remember I am troubled, And horror taketh hold on my flesh.

7 W herefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

8 T heir seed is 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.

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

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

12 T hey sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

13 T hey spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol.

14 A nd they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

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

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

17 H ow oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity cometh upon them? That God distributeth sorrows in his anger?

18 T hat they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

19 Y e say, God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it:

20 L et his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21 F or what careth he for his house 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?

23 O ne dieth in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet:

24 H is pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened.

25 A nd another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good.

26 T hey lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them.

27 B ehold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me.

28 F or ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?

29 H ave ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences,

30 T hat the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?

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

32 Y et shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb.

33 T he clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him.

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