1 A nd Job answereth and saith: --

2 H ear ye diligently my word, And this is your consolation.

3 B ear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking -- ye may deride.

4 I -- to man my complaint? and if, wherefore May not my temper become short?

5 T urn unto me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.

6 Y ea, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh hath taken fright.

7 W herefore do the wicked live? They have become old, Yea, they have been mighty in wealth.

8 T heir seed is established, Before their face with them, And their offspring before their eyes.

9 T heir houses peace without fear, Nor a rod of God upon them.

10 H is bullock hath eaten corn, and doth not loath. His cow bringeth forth safely, And doth not miscarry.

11 T hey send forth as a flock their sucklings, And their children skip,

12 T hey lift up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of an organ.

13 T hey wear out in good their days, And in a moment Sheol go down.

14 A nd they say to God, `Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Thy ways We have not desired.

15 W hat the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?'

16 L o, not in their hand their good, (The counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.)

17 H ow oft is the lamp of the wicked extinguished, And come on them doth their calamity? Pangs He apportioneth in His anger.

18 T hey are as straw before wind, And as chaff a hurricane hath stolen away,

19 G od layeth up for his sons his sorrow, He giveth recompense unto him -- and he knoweth.

20 H is own eyes see his destruction, And of the wrath of the Mighty he drinketh.

21 F or what his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off?

22 T o God doth teach knowledge, And He the high doth judge?

23 T his dieth in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.

24 H is breasts have been full of milk, And marrow his bones doth moisten.

25 A nd this dieth with a bitter soul, And have not eaten with gladness.

26 T ogether -- on the dust they lie down, And the worm doth cover them over.

27 L o, I have known your thoughts, And the devices against me ye do wrongfully.

28 F or ye say, `Where the house of the noble? And where the tent -- The tabernacles of the wicked?'

29 H ave ye not asked those passing by the way? And their signs do ye not know?

30 T hat to a day of calamity is the wicked spared. To a day of wrath they are brought.

31 W ho doth declare to his face his way? And that which he hath done, Who doth give recompence to him?

32 A nd he -- to the graves he is brought. And over the heap a watch is kept.

33 S weet to him have been the clods of the valley, And after him every man he draweth, And before him there is no numbering.

34 A nd how do ye comfort me vanity, And in your answers hath been left trespass?