1 A nd Job answered and said,

Then Job answered,

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

Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolation.

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

Allow me, and I also 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?

As for me, is my complaint to man or of him? And why should I not be impatient and my spirit be troubled?

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

Look at me and be astonished (appalled); and lay your hand upon your mouth.

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

Even when I remember, I am troubled and afraid; horror and trembling take hold of my flesh.

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

Why do the wicked live, become old, and become mighty in power?

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

Their children 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 and in peace, without 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.

Their bull breeds and fails not; their cows calve and do not miscarry.

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

They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children skip about.

12 T hey shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

They themselves lift up their voices and sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.

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

They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol (the unseen state) in a moment and peacefully.

14 A nd they say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!

Yet they say to God, Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.

15 W hat is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?

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

But notice, the prosperity of the wicked is not in their power; the mystery with the ungodly is far from my comprehension.

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?

How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God distributes pains and sorrows to them in His anger?

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

That they are like stubble before the wind and like chaff that the storm steals and carries away?

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

You say, God lays up iniquity for his children. Let Him recompense it to the man himself, that he may know and feel it.

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

Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath 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?

For what pleasure or interest has a man in his house and family after he is dead, 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.

Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing that He judges those who are 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 quiet;

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

His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is fresh and moist,

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

Whereas another man dies in bitterness of soul and never tastes of pleasure or good fortune.

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

They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm spreads a covering over them.

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

Behold, I know your thoughts and plans and the devices with which you would wrong me.

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

For you say, Where is the house of the rich and liberal prince ? And where is the tent in which the wicked dwelt?

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

Have you not asked those who travel this way, and do you not accept their testimony and evidences—

30 T hat the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to the day of wrath.

That the evil man is spared in the day of calamity and destruction, and they are led forth and away on the day of wrath?

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

But who declares way him to his face? And who pays him back for what he has done?

32 Y et is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb.

When he is borne to the grave, watch is kept over his 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.

The clods of the valley are sweet to him, and every man shall follow him to a grave, as innumerable people before him.

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

How then can you comfort me with empty and futile words, since in your replies there lurks falsehood?