1. |
But Job answered and said, |
2. |
Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. |
3. |
Suffer me that I may speak; and after I have spoken, mock on. |
4. |
As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled? |
5. |
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth. |
6. |
Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. |
7. |
Why do the wicked live, become old, and, are mighty in power? |
8. |
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. |
9. |
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. |
10. |
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. |
11. |
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. |
12. |
They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. |
13. |
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. |
14. |
Therefore they say to God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. |
15. |
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray to him? |
16. |
Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me. |
17. |
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 as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. |
19. |
God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. |
20. |
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. |
21. |
For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? |
22. |
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high. |
23. |
One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet. |
24. |
His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. |
25. |
And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. |
26. |
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. |
27. |
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. |
28. |
For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked? |
29. |
Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, |
30. |
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they will be brought forth to the day of wrath. |
31. |
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done? |
32. |
Yet he shall be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. |
33. |
The clods of the valley will be sweet to him, and every man will draw after him, as there are innumerable before him. |
34. |
How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood? |