1 A nd Job answereth and saith: --

Then Job answered and said:

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

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

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

Bear with me that I may speak, And after I have spoken, keep mocking.

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

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

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

Look at me and be astonished; Put your hand over your mouth.

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

Even when I remember I am terrified, And trembling takes hold of my flesh.

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

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

8 T heir seed is established, Before their face with them, 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 peace without fear, Nor a rod of God upon them.

Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the 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.

Their bull breeds without failure; Their cow calves without miscarriage.

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

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

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

They sing to the tambourine and harp, And rejoice to the sound of the flute.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Indeed their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is 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.

“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?

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

They are like straw before the wind, And like chaff that a storm carries away.

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

They say, ‘God lays up one’s iniquity for his children’; Let Him recompense him, that he may know it.

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

Let his eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

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

For what does he care about his household after him, When the number of his months is cut in half?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, Never having eaten with pleasure.

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

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

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

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

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

For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent, The dwelling place of the wicked?’

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

Have you not asked those who travel the road? And do you not know their signs?

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

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

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

Who condemns his way to his face? And who repays him for what he has done?

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

Yet he shall be brought to the grave, And a vigil kept over the tomb.

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.

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

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

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