1 T hen Job answered and said,

Then Job answered,

2 H ear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations.

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

3 S uffer me, and I also will speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on.

Allow me, and I also will speak; After I have spoken, mock on.

4 A s for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?

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

5 M ark me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth.

Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.

6 E ven when I remember I am troubled, And horror taketh hold on my flesh.

When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.

7 W herefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

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

8 T heir seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.

Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.

9 T heir houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.

Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

10 T heir bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

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

11 T hey send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.

They send out their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.

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

They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

13 T hey spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol.

They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol.

14 A nd they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about your ways.

15 W hat is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’

16 L o, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17 H ow oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity cometh upon them? That God distributeth sorrows in his anger?

“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 T hat they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?

19 Y e say, God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it:

You say, ‘God lays up his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.

20 L et his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21 F or what careth he for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off?

For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?

22 S hall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?

“Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?

23 O ne dieth in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet:

One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

24 H is pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened.

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

25 A nd another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good.

Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.

26 T hey lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them.

They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.

27 B ehold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me.

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

28 F or ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?

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

29 H ave ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences,

Haven’t you asked wayfaring men? Don’t you know their evidences,

30 T hat the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?

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

31 W ho shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?

Who shall declare his way to his face? Who shall repay him what he has done?

32 Y et shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb.

Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men shall keep watch over the tomb.

33 T he clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him.

The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him. All men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.

34 H ow then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth only falsehood?

So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”