1 A nd Job answered and said,

2 H ear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations.

3 S uffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on!

4 A s for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient?

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

6 E ven when I think, I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.

7 W herefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become 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 shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

13 T hey spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment 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 are we profited if we pray unto him?

16 B ehold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked be far from me!

17 H ow often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and cometh their calamity upon them? Doth he distribute sorrows in his anger?

18 D o they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

19 + God layeth up his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know:

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

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

22 C an any teach God knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.

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

24 H is sides are full of fat, and the marrow of his bones is moistened;

25 A nd another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good:

26 T ogether they lie down in the dust, and the worms cover them.

27 L o, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me.

28 F or ye say, Where is the house of the noble? and where the tent of the dwellings of the wicked?

29 H ave ye not asked the wayfarers? and do ye not regard their tokens:

30 T hat the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? 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 is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb.

33 T he clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable before him.

34 H ow then comfort ye me in vain? Your answers remain perfidious.