[1] Then Job answered, [2] "Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be
your consolation. [3] Allow me, and I also will speak; After I have
spoken, mock on. [4] As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn`t I
be impatient? [5] Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your
mouth. [6] When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my
flesh. [7] "Why do the wicked live, Become old, yes, and grow mighty in
power? [8] Their child is established with them in their sight, Their
offspring before their eyes. [9] Their houses are safe from fear,
Neither is the rod of God upon them. [10] Their bulls breed without fail.
Their cows calve, and don`t miscarry. [11] They send forth their little
ones like a flock. Their children dance. [12] They sing to the
tambourine and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe. [13] They
spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol.
[14] They tell God, `Depart from us, For we don`t want to know about
your ways. [15] What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What
profit should we have, if we pray to him?` [16] Behold, their prosperity is
not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked 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? [18] That they
are as stubble before the wind, As chaff that the storm carries away?
[19] You say, `God lays up his iniquity for his children.` Let him
recompense it to himself, that he may know it. [20] Let his own eyes see
his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty. [21] For
what does he care for his house after him, When the number of his months
is cut off? [22] "Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judges those
who are high? [23] One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease
and quiet. [24] His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is
moistened. [25] Another dies in bitterness of soul, And never tastes of
good. [26] They lie down alike in the dust, The worm covers them. [27]
"Behold, I know your thoughts, The devices with which you would wrong
me. [28] For you say, `Where is the house of the prince? Where is the
tent in which the wicked lived?` [29] Haven`t you asked wayfaring men?
Don`t you know their evidences, [30] That the evil man is reserved to the
day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath? [31] Who
shall declare his way to his face? Who shall repay him what he has done?
[32] Yet shall he be borne to the grave, Men shall keep watch over the
tomb. [33] The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him. All men shall
draw after him, As there were innumerable before him. [34] So how can
you comfort me with nonsense, Seeing that in your answers there remains
only falsehood?"
