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 answered,

^{2 Ref} "Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.

^{3 Ref} Allow me, and I also will speak; After I have spoken, mock on.

^{4 Ref} As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn't I be impatient?

^{5 Ref} Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.

^{6 Ref} When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.

^{7 Ref} "Why do the wicked live, Become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?

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

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

^{10 Ref} Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don't miscarry.

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

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

^{13 Ref} They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol.

^{14 Ref} They tell God, 'Depart from us, For we don't want to know about your ways.

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

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

^{17 Ref} "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 Ref} That they are as stubble before the wind, As chaff that the storm carries away?

^{19 Ref} You say, 'God lays up his iniquity for his children.' Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.

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

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

^{22 Ref} "Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judges those who are high?

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

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

^{25 Ref} Another dies in bitterness of soul, And never tastes of good.

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

^{27 Ref} "Behold, I know your thoughts, The devices with which you would wrong me.

^{28 Ref} For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'

^{29 Ref} Haven't you asked wayfaring men? Don't you 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? Who shall repay him what he has done?

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

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

^{34 Ref} So how can you comfort me with nonsense, Seeing that in your answers there remains only falsehood?"