1 T hen Job answered,

But Job answered and said,

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

Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

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

Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

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

As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

5 L ook at me, and be surprised; and put your hand over your mouth.

Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

6 W hen I think, I am troubled; and fear takes hold of my body.

Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

7 W hy do the sinful live, become old, and become very powerful?

Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

8 T hey watch their children’s children become strong in front of their eyes.

Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

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

Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

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

Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

11 T hey send out their little ones like a flock, and their children jump around.

They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

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

They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

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

They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

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

Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

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

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

16 S ee, their well-being is not in their own hands. The wisdom of the sinful is far from me.

Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17 “ 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?

How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

18 A re they like straw blown by the wind? Are they like straw that the storm carries away?

They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

19 Y ou say, ‘God stores up a man’s punishment for his sons.’ Let God punish him so that he may know it.

God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

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

His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

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

For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

22 C an anyone teach God anything, when He judges those on high?

Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

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

One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

24 H is body has good food and his bones are strong.

His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

25 A nother dies with bitter feelings in his soul, never having enjoyed anything good.

And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.

26 T ogether they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them.

They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

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

Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

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

For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

29 H ave you not asked those who travel this way? Do you listen to what they say?

Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

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

that the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

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

Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

32 W hen he is carried to the grave, men will keep watch over his grave.

Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.

33 T he 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.

The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

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

How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?