| 1Then Job answered: | 1Then Job answered: |
| 2"Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you offer me. | 2"Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you offer me. |
| 3Bear with me and I will speak, and after I have spoken you may mock. | 3Bear with me and I will speak, and after I have spoken you may mock. |
| 4Is my complaint against a man? If so, why should I not be impatient? | 4Is my complaint against a man? If so, why should I not be impatient? |
| 5Look at me and be appalled; put your hands over your mouths. | 5Look at me and be appalled; put your hands over your mouths. |
| 6For, when I think about this, I am terrified and my body feels a shudder. | 6For, when I think about this, I am terrified and my body feels a shudder. |
| 7"Why do the wicked go on living, grow old, even increase in power? | 7"Why do the wicked go on living, grow old, even increase in power? |
| 8Their children are firmly established in their presence, their offspring before their eyes. | 8Their children are firmly established in their presence, their offspring before their eyes. |
| 9Their houses are safe and without fear; and no rod of punishment from God is upon them. | 9Their houses are safe and without fear; and no rod of punishment from God is upon them. |
| 10Their bulls breed without fail; their cows calve and do not miscarry. | 10Their bulls breed without fail; their cows calve and do not miscarry. |
| 11They allow their children to run like a flock; their little ones dance about. | 11They allow their children to run like a flock; their little ones dance about. |
| 12They sing to the accompaniment of tambourine and harp, and make merry to the sound of the flute. | 12They sing to the accompaniment of tambourine and harp, and make merry to the sound of the flute. |
| 13They live out their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace. | 13They live out their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace. |
| 14So they say to God, 'Turn away from us! We do not want to know your ways. | 14So they say to God, 'Turn away from us! We do not want to know your ways. |
| 15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain if we were to pray to him?' | 15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain if we were to pray to him?' |
| 16But their prosperity is not their own doing. The counsel of the wicked is far from me! | 16But their prosperity is not their own doing. The counsel of the wicked is far from me! |
| 17"How often is the lamp of the wicked extinguished? How often does their misfortune come upon them? How often does God apportion pain to them in his anger? | 17"How often is the lamp of the wicked extinguished? How often does their misfortune come upon them? How often does God apportion pain to them in his anger? |
| 18How often are they like straw before the wind, and like chaff swept away by a whirlwind? | 18How often are they like straw before the wind, and like chaff swept away by a whirlwind? |
| 19You may say, 'God stores up a man's punishment for his children!' Instead let him repay the man himself so that he may know it! | 19You may say, 'God stores up a man's punishment for his children!' Instead let him repay the man himself so that he may know it! |
| 20Let his own eyes see his destruction; let him drink of the anger of the Almighty. | 20Let his own eyes see his destruction; let him drink of the anger of the Almighty. |
| 21For what is his interest in his home after his death, when the number of his months has been broken off? | 21For what is his interest in his home after his death, when the number of his months has been broken off? |
| 22Can anyone teach God knowledge, since he judges those that are on high? | 22Can anyone teach God knowledge, since he judges those that are on high? |
| 23"One man dies in his full vigor, completely secure and prosperous, | 23"One man dies in his full vigor, completely secure and prosperous, |
| 24his body well nourished, and the marrow of his bones moist. | 24his body well nourished, and the marrow of his bones moist. |
| 25And another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted anything good. | 25And another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted anything good. |
| 26Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover over them both. | 26Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover over them both. |
| 27"Yes, I know what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me. | 27"Yes, I know what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me. |
| 28For you say, 'Where now is the nobleman's house, and where are the tents in which the wicked lived?' | 28For you say, 'Where now is the nobleman's house, and where are the tents in which the wicked lived?' |
| 29Have you never questioned those who travel the roads? Do you not recognize their accounts-- | 29Have you never questioned those who travel the roads? Do you not recognize their accounts-- |
| 30that the evil man is spared from the day of his misfortune, that he is delivered from the day of God's wrath? | 30that the evil man is spared from the day of his misfortune, that he is delivered from the day of God's wrath? |
| 31No one denounces his conduct to his face; no one repays him for what he has done. | 31No one denounces his conduct to his face; no one repays him for what he has done. |
| 32And when he is carried to the tombs, and watch is kept over the funeral mound, | 32And when he is carried to the tombs, and watch is kept over the funeral mound, |
| 33The clods of the torrent valley are sweet to him; behind him everybody follows in procession, and before him goes a countless throng. | 33The clods of the torrent valley are sweet to him; behind him everybody follows in procession, and before him goes a countless throng. |
| 34So how can you console me with your futile words? Nothing is left of your answers but deception!" | 34So how can you console me with your futile words? Nothing is left of your answers but deception!" |
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