¹ And Job answereth and saith: --

^{2 Ref} Hear ye diligently my word, And this is your consolation.

^{3 Ref} Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking -- ye may deride.

^{4 Ref} I -- to man `is' my complaint? and if `so', wherefore May not my temper become short?

^{5 Ref} Turn unto me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.

^{6 Ref} Yea, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh hath taken fright.

^{7 Ref} Wherefore do the wicked live? They have become old, Yea, they have been mighty in wealth.

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

^{9 Ref} Their houses `are' peace without fear, Nor `is' a rod of God upon them.

^{10 Ref} His bullock hath eaten corn, and doth not loath. His cow bringeth forth safely, And doth not miscarry.

^{11 Ref} They send forth as a flock their sucklings, And their children skip,

^{12 Ref} They lift `themselves' up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of an organ.

^{13 Ref} They wear out in good their days, And in a moment `to' Sheol go down.

^{14 Ref} And they say to God, `Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Thy ways We have not desired.

^{15 Ref} What `is' the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?'

^{16 Ref} Lo, not in their hand `is' their good, (The counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.)

^{17 Ref} How oft is the lamp of the wicked extinguished, And come on them doth their calamity? Pangs He apportioneth in His anger.

^{18 Ref} They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a hurricane hath stolen away,

^{19 Ref} God layeth up for his sons his sorrow, He giveth recompense unto him -- and he knoweth.

^{20 Ref} His own eyes see his destruction, And of the wrath of the Mighty he drinketh.

^{21 Ref} For what `is' his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off?

^{22 Ref} To God doth `one' teach knowledge, And He the high doth judge?

^{23 Ref} This `one' dieth in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.

^{24 Ref} His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow his bones doth moisten.

^{25 Ref} And this `one' dieth with a bitter soul, And have not eaten with gladness.

^{26 Ref} Together -- on the dust they lie down, And the worm doth cover them over.

^{27 Ref} Lo, I have known your thoughts, And the devices against me ye do wrongfully.

^{28 Ref} For ye say, `Where `is' the house of the noble? And where the tent -- The tabernacles of the wicked?'

^{29 Ref} Have ye not asked those passing by the way? And their signs do ye not know?

^{30 Ref} That to a day of calamity is the wicked spared. To a day of wrath they are brought.

^{31 Ref} Who doth declare to his face his way? And `for' that which he hath done, Who doth give recompence to him?

^{32 Ref} And he -- to the graves he is brought. And over the heap a watch is kept.

^{33 Ref} Sweet to him have been the clods of the valley, And after him every man he draweth, And before him there is no numbering.

^{34 Ref} And how do ye comfort me `with' vanity, And in your answers hath been left trespass?