1 T hen Job answered,

Then Job answered,

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 consolation.

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

Allow me, and I also will speak; and after 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 or of him? And why should I not be impatient and my spirit be troubled?

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

Look at me and be astonished (appalled); 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 troubled and afraid; horror and trembling take hold of my flesh.

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

Why do the wicked live, become old, and become mighty in power?

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

Their children are established with them in their sight, 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 and in peace, without 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 breeds and fails not; their cows calve and do not miscarry.

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 skip about.

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

They themselves lift up their voices and sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.

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 prosperity and go down to Sheol (the unseen state) in a moment and peacefully.

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

Yet they say to God, Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of Your 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?’

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?

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

But notice, the prosperity of the wicked is not in their power; the mystery with the ungodly is far from my comprehension.

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 often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God distributes pains and sorrows to them in His anger?

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

That they are like stubble before the wind and like chaff that the storm steals and carries 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.

You say, God lays up iniquity for his children. Let Him recompense it to the man himself, that he may know and feel it.

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

Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him 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 or interest has a man in his house and family after he is dead, when the number of his months is cut off?

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

Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing that He judges those who are on high?

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

One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;

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

His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is fresh and moist,

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

Whereas another man dies in bitterness of soul and never tastes of pleasure or good fortune.

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

They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm spreads a covering over them.

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

Behold, I know your thoughts and plans and the devices with which you would wrong me.

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

For you say, Where is the house of the rich and liberal prince ? And where is the tent in which the wicked dwelt?

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

Have you not asked those who travel this way, and do you not accept their testimony and evidences—

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

That the evil man is spared in the day of calamity and destruction, and they are led forth and away on 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?

But who declares way him to his face? And who pays him back for what he has done?

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

When he is borne to the grave, watch is kept over his 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 are sweet to him, and every man shall follow him to a grave, as innumerable people before him.

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

How then can you comfort me with empty and futile words, since in your replies there lurks falsehood?