1 T hen Job answered,

Then Job answered,

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

“Be careful to listen to my words. Let this be the comfort you give me.

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

Listen to me while I speak. Then after I have spoken, you may keep on making fun of me.

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

As for me, am I complaining against man? Why should my spirit not be troubled?

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

Look at me, and be surprised; and put your hand over your mouth.

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

When I think, I am troubled; and fear takes hold of my body.

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

Why do the sinful live, become old, and become very powerful?

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

They watch their children’s children become strong in front of their eyes.

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

Their houses are safe from fear. And the punishment of God does not come upon them.

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

Their bull mates without trouble. Their cow gives birth to live calves.

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

They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children jump around.

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

They sing to the timbrel and the harp. They show their joy at the sound of the horn.

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

They spend their days with much more than they need. And all at once they go down to the place of the dead.

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

They say to God, ‘Leave us alone! We do not want to know Your ways.

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

Who is the All-powerful, that we should serve Him? What would we have more than we have if we prayed to Him?’

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

See, their well-being is not in their own hands. The wisdom of the sinful 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?

“How many times is the lamp of the sinful put out, that their trouble comes upon them? How often does God send trouble to them in His anger?

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

Are they like straw blown by the wind? Are they like straw that 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.

You say, ‘God stores up a man’s punishment for his sons.’ Let God punish 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.

Let his own eyes see himself being destroyed. Let him drink the anger of the All-powerful.

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

For what does he care for his house and family after he is dead, when the number of his months is over?

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

Can anyone teach God anything, when He judges those on high?

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

One man dies while still very strong, having everything he needs and time to enjoy it.

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

His body has good food and his bones are strong.

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

Another dies with bitter feelings in his soul, never having enjoyed anything good.

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

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.

“See, I know your thoughts and your plans to wrong me.

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

For you say, ‘Where is the house of the leader? Where are the tents where the sinful men live?’

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

Have you not asked those who travel this way? Do you listen to what they say?

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

For the sinful are kept for the day of trouble. They will be brought out on the day of anger.

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

Who will talk to him about his way to his face? And who will punish him for what he has done?

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

When he is carried to the grave, men will keep watch over his grave.

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

The earth of the valley will be sweet to him. All men will follow after him, and those who go before him are too many to number.

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

How then can you comfort me with foolish words? Your answers are full of lies.”