1 A nd Job answereth and saith: --

Then Job answered,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

They watch their children’s children become strong in front of their eyes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

They say to God, ‘Leave us alone! We do not want to know 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 All-powerful, that we should serve Him? What would we have more than we have if we prayed to Him?’

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

See, their well-being is not in their own hands. The wisdom of the sinful 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 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 T hey are as straw before wind, And as chaff a hurricane hath stolen away,

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

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

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

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

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

21 F or what his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months 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 T o God doth teach knowledge, And He the high doth judge?

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

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

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

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

His body has good food and his bones are strong.

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

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

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

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

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

“See, I know your thoughts and your plans to 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 leader? Where are the tents where the sinful men live?’

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 this way? Do you listen to what they say?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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