1 T hen Job answered,

Then Job answered,

2 “ Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.

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

3 A llow me, and I also will speak; After I have spoken, mock on.

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

4 A s for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?

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

5 L ook at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.

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

6 W hen I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.

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

7 “ Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?

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

8 T heir child is established with them in their sight, 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, neither is the rod of God upon them.

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

10 T heir bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry.

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

11 T hey send out their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.

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

12 T hey sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

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

13 T hey spend their days in prosperity. In an instant 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 T hey tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about your ways.

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

15 W hat is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to 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 B ehold, 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 it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows 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 H ow often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?

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

19 Y ou say, ‘God lays up his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to himself, 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 L et his own eyes see his destruction. 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 F or what does he care for his house 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 “ Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?

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

23 O ne dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

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

24 H is pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.

His body has good food and his bones are strong.

25 A nother dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.

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

26 T hey lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.

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

27 “ Behold, I know your thoughts, the devices with which you would wrong me.

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

28 F or you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’

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

29 H aven’t you asked wayfaring men? Don’t you know their evidences,

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

30 t hat the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, That they are led out to the day of wrath?

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

31 W ho shall declare his way to his face? Who shall repay him 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 Y et he will be borne to the grave. Men shall keep watch over the tomb.

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

33 T he clods of the valley shall be sweet to him. All men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable 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 S o how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”

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