1But Job answered and said, 2Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. 3Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. 4As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?21.4 troubled: Heb. shortened? 5Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.21.5 Mark…: Heb. Look unto me 6Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
7Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? 8Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. 9Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.21.9 safe…: Heb. peace from 10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. 11They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. 12They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. 13They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.21.13 in wealth: or, in mirth 14Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? 16Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.21.17 candle: or, lamp 18They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.21.18 carrieth: Heb. stealeth 19God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.21.19 his iniquity: that is, the punishment of his iniquity 20His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. 21For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? 22Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high. 23One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.21.23 his…: Heb. his very, or, the strength of, his perfection 24His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.21.24 breasts: or, milk pails 25And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. 26They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. 28For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?21.28 the dwelling…: Heb. the tent of the tabernacles 29Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, 30That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.21.30 wrath: Heb. wraths 31Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done? 32Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.21.32 grave: Heb. graves21.32 remain…: Heb. watch in the heap 33The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him. 34How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?21.34 falsehood: Heb. transgression?
Job’s Reply
1Job replied,
2“Listen carefully to what I’m saying.
Let that be the comfort you people give me.
3Put up with me while I speak.
After I’ve spoken, you can make fun of me!
4“I’m not arguing with mere human beings.
So why shouldn’t I be angry and uneasy?
5Look at me and be shocked.
Put your hand over your mouth and stop talking!
6When I think about these things, I’m terrified.
My whole body trembles.
7Why do sinful people keep on living?
The older they grow, the richer they get.
8They see their children grow up around them.
They watch their family grow larger.
9Their homes are safe.
They don’t have to be afraid.
God isn’t punishing them.
10Every time their bulls mate, their cows become pregnant.
And the calves don’t die before they are born.
11Sinful people send their children out like a flock of lambs.
Their little ones dance around.
12They sing to the music of tambourines and lyres.
They have a good time while flutes are being played.
13Those who are evil spend their years living well.
They go down to their graves in peace.
14But they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!
We don’t want to know how you want us to live.
15Who is the Mighty One? Why should we serve him?
What would we get if we prayed to him?’
16But they aren’t in control of their own success.
So I don’t pay any attention to their plans.
17“How often are their lamps blown out?
How often does trouble come on them?
How often does God punish them when he’s angry?
18How often are they like straw blowing in the wind?
How often are they like tumbleweeds swept away by a storm?
19People say, ‘God stores up the punishment of evil people for their children.’
But let God punish the evil people themselves.
Then they’ll learn a lesson from it.
20Let their own eyes see how they are destroyed.
Let them drink the wine of the Mighty One’s anger.
21What do they care about the families they leave behind?
What do they care about them
when their lives come to an end?
22“Can anyone teach God anything?
After all, he judges even the angels in heaven.
23Some people die while they are still very strong.
They are completely secure. They have an easy life.
24They are well fed.
Their bodies are healthy.
25Others die while their spirits are bitter.
They’ve never enjoyed anything good.
26Side by side they lie in the dust of death.
The worms in their graves cover all of them.
27“I know exactly what you people are thinking.
I know you are planning to do bad things to me.
28You are saying to yourselves,
‘Where is the great man’s house now?
Where are the tents where his evil family lived?’
29Haven’t you ever asked questions of those who travel?
Haven’t you paid any attention to their stories?
30They’ll tell you that sinful people
are spared from the day of trouble.
They’ll say that those people
are saved from the day when God will judge.
31Who speaks against them for the way they act?
Who pays them back for what they’ve done?
32Their bodies will be carried to their graves.
Guards will watch over their tombs.
33The soil in the valley will be pleasant
to those who have died.
Many people will walk along behind their bodies.
Many others will walk in front of them.
34“So how can you comfort me with your speeches?
They don’t make any sense at all.
Your answers are nothing but lies!”
