1 T hen Job answered and said:

Then Job answered,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8 T heir descendants are established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.

“Their 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“They say to God, ‘ Depart from us! We do not even 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?’

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

16 I ndeed their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

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

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

“Are they as straw before the wind, And like chaff which the 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.

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

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

“Let his own eyes see his decay, 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?

“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, Since He judges those on high?

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

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

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

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

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

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

While another dies with a bitter soul, Never even tasting anything good.

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

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

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

“Behold, I know your thoughts, And the plans by 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?’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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