1 T hen Job answered,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

25 W hile another dies with a bitter soul, Never even tasting anything good.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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