1 ¶ But Job answered and said,

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

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

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

5 L ook upon me and be astonished and lay your hand upon your mouth.

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

7 ¶ Why do the wicked live and become old and even increase in riches?

8 T heir seed is with them, established 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 cows conceive, and do not abort; their cows calve and do not cast forth their young.

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

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

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

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

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

16 B ehold that their good is not in their hands; the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17 ¶ How often is the lamp of the wicked put out and their destruction comes upon them, and God distributes sorrows upon them in his anger.

18 T hey shall be as stubble before the wind and as chaff taken up by the whirlwind.

19 G od shall lay up his violence for their sons; and he will reward him so that he shall know it.

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

21 F or what delight shall he have in his house after him, being cut off in the number of his months?

22 S hall he teach God knowledge, seeing he judges those that are high?

23 T his one shall die in the full strength of his beauty, being completely at ease and quiet.

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

25 A nd another dies in the bitterness of his soul, never having eaten with pleasure.

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

27 ¶ Behold, I know your thoughts and the imaginations which ye devise against me.

28 F or ye say, What is of the house of the prince, and what of the tent of the habitation of the wicked?

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

30 T hat the wicked is reserved for the day of destruction, they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

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

32 H e shall yet be brought to the grave and shall remain in the tomb.

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

34 H ow then do ye comfort me in vain, given that your answers remain as falsehood?