¹ Then Job answered and said,

^{2 Ref} Hear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations.

^{3 Ref} Suffer me, and I also will speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on.

^{4 Ref} As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?

^{5 Ref} Mark me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth.

^{6 Ref} Even when I remember I am troubled, And horror taketh hold on my flesh.

^{7 Ref} Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

^{8 Ref} Their seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.

^{9 Ref} Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.

^{10 Ref} Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

^{11 Ref} They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.

^{12 Ref} They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

^{13 Ref} They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol.

^{14 Ref} And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

^{15 Ref} What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

^{16 Ref} Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

^{17 Ref} How 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?

^{18 Ref} That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

^{19 Ref} `Ye say', God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it:

^{20 Ref} Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

^{21 Ref} For what careth he for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off?

^{22 Ref} Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?

^{23 Ref} One dieth in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet:

^{24 Ref} His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened.

^{25 Ref} And another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good.

^{26 Ref} They lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them.

^{27 Ref} Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me.

^{28 Ref} For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?

^{29 Ref} Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences,

^{30 Ref} That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?

^{31 Ref} Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?

^{32 Ref} Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb.

^{33 Ref} The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him.

^{34 Ref} How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth `only' falsehood?

¹ Then Job made answer and said,

^{2 Ref} Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.

^{3 Ref} Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.

^{4 Ref} As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?

^{5 Ref} Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.

^{6 Ref} At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.

^{7 Ref} Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?

^{8 Ref} Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

^{9 Ref} Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.

^{10 Ref} Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.

^{11 Ref} They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,

^{12 Ref} They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.

^{13 Ref} Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld.

^{14 Ref} Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.

^{15 Ref} What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?

^{16 Ref} Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)

^{17 Ref} How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords?

^{18 Ref} How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?

^{19 Ref} You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it!

^{20 Ref} Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!

^{21 Ref} For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?

^{22 Ref} Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.

^{23 Ref} One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:

^{24 Ref} His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.

^{25 Ref} And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.

^{26 Ref} Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.

^{27 Ref} See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;

^{28 Ref} For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?

^{29 Ref} Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?

^{30 Ref} How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?

^{31 Ref} Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?

^{32 Ref} He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.

^{33 Ref} The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.

^{34 Ref} Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit?