1 Then Job answered and said:

But Job answered and said,

2 Listen carefully to my words, and let this be your consolation.

Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

3 Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, you may mock.

Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

4 Is my complaint directed to a man? Why then should my spirit not be impatient?

As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

5 Look at me and be appalled, and lay your hand over your mouth.

Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

6 When I remember, I am dismayed, and trembling seizes my body.

Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

7 Why do the wicked live on, grow old, and increase in power?

Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

8 Their children are established in their presence, and their offspring before their eyes.

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

9 Their homes are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.

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

10 Their bulls breed without failure; their cows give birth and do not miscarry.

Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

11 They release their young like a flock, and their children skip about.

They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

12 They sing to the tambourine and lyre and rejoice to the sound of the flute.

They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment they go down to Sheol.

They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

14 Yet they say to God, 'Depart from us! We have no desire to know your ways.'

Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we profit if we entreat him?

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

16 But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17 How often is the lamp of the wicked extinguished? Disaster comes upon them as calamities God apportions in his anger.

How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

18 They are like straw before the wind and like chaff carried away by a storm.

They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

19 God stores up their iniquity for their children. Let him repay them so that they may experience it themselves.

God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

20 Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink from the wrath of the Almighty.

His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21 For what does he care about his household after him, when the number of his months is cut off?

For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

22 Can anyone teach knowledge to God, who judges even the exalted ones?

Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

23 One person dies in the full vigor of his strength, completely secure and at ease,

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

24 His sides full of milk, and the marrow of his bones moist.

His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

25 While another dies in bitterness of soul, having never tasted prosperity.

And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.

26 They lie down together in the dust, and worms cover them.

They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

27 Behold, I know your thoughts and the schemes you plot against me.

Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

28 For you say, 'Where is the house of the noble? Where is the tent of the dwellings of the wicked?

For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

29 Have you not asked those who travel the road, and did you not recognize their testimonies?

Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

30 That the wicked are spared in the day of calamity, that they are brought forth in the day of wrath?

That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

31 Who will confront him with his conduct? Who repays him for what he has done?

Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

32 He is carried to the graves, and a watch is kept over his tomb.

Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.

33 The clods of the valley are sweet to him; everyone follows after him, and countless go before him.

The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

34 So how can you comfort me with empty words, since your answers remain falsehoods?

How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?