1 T hen Job answered and said:

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

3 B ear with me that I may speak, And after I have spoken, keep mocking.

4 “ As for me, is my complaint against man? And if it were, why should I not be impatient?

5 L ook at me and be astonished; Put your hand over your mouth.

6 E ven when I remember I am terrified, And trembling takes hold of my flesh.

7 W hy do the wicked live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power?

8 T heir descendants 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.

10 T heir bull breeds without failure; Their cow calves without miscarriage.

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

12 T hey sing to the tambourine and harp, And rejoice to the sound of the flute.

13 T hey spend their days in wealth, And in a moment go down to the grave.

14 Y et they say to God, ‘Depart from us, For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.

15 W ho is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?’

16 I ndeed 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? How often does their destruction come upon them, The sorrows God distributes in His anger?

18 T hey are like straw before the wind, And like chaff that a storm carries away.

19 T hey say, ‘God lays up one’s iniquity for his children’; Let Him recompense him, that he may know it.

20 L et his eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21 F or what does he care about his household after him, When the number of his months is cut in half?

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

23 O ne dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and secure;

24 H is pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moist.

25 A nother man dies in the bitterness of his soul, Never having eaten with pleasure.

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

27 “ Look, I know your thoughts, And the schemes with which you would wrong me.

28 F or you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent, The dwelling place of the wicked?’

29 H ave you not asked those who travel the road? And do you not know their signs?

30 F or the wicked are reserved for the day of doom; They shall be brought out on the day of wrath.

31 W ho condemns his way to his face? And who repays him for what he has done?

32 Y et he shall be brought to the grave, And a vigil kept over the tomb.

33 T he clods of the valley shall be sweet to him; Everyone shall follow him, As countless have gone before him.

34 H ow then can you comfort me with empty words, Since falsehood remains in your answers?”