Then Job 1answered
,
"Listen carefully
to my speech
, And let this
be your way of consolation
.
"Bear with me that I may speak
; Then after
I have spoken
, you may amock
.
"As for me, is amy complaint 1to man
? And bwhy
should 2I not be impatient
?
"Look at me, and be astonished
, And aput
your hand
over
your mouth
.
"Even when I remember
, I am disturbed
, And ahorror
takes
hold
of my flesh
.
"Why ado the wicked
still live
, Continue
on, also
become
very
bpowerful
?
"Their 1 adescendants are established
with them in their sight
, And their offspring
before their eyes
,
Their houses aare safe
from fear
, And the rod
of God
is not on them.
"His ox mates
1without
fail
; His cow
calves
and does not abort
.
"They send forth their little
ones
like the flock
, And their children
skip
about
.
"They 1sing to the timbrel
and harp
And rejoice
at the sound
of the flute
.
"They aspend their days
in prosperity
, And 1suddenly
they go
down
to 2Sheol
.
"They say to God
, ` aDepart
from us! We do not even desire
the knowledge
of Your ways
.
` 1Who is 2the Almighty
, that we should serve
Him, And awhat
would we gain
if
we entreat
Him?'
"Behold, their prosperity
is not in their hand
; The acounsel
of the wicked
is far
from me.
"How often
is athe lamp
of the wicked
put
out, Or does their bcalamity
fall
on them? Does 1God apportion
destruction
in His anger
?
"Are they as astraw before
the wind
, And like bchaff
which the storm
carries
away
?
"You say, ` aGod stores
away
1a man's iniquity
for his sons
.' Let 2God repay
him so that he may know
it.
"Let his aown eyes see
his decay
, And let him bdrink
of the wrath
of 1the Almighty
.
"For what does he care
for his household
1after
him, When the number
of his months
is cut
off
?
"Can anyone ateach God
knowledge
, In that He bjudges
those on high
?
"One adies
in his full
strength
, Being wholly
at ease
and 1satisfied
;
His 1sides are filled
out with fat
, And the amarrow
of his bones
is moist
,
While another dies
with a bitter
soul
, Never
even 1tasting
anything good
.
"Together they alie
down
in the dust
, And bworms
cover
them.
"Behold, I know
your thoughts
, And the plans
by which you would wrong
me.
"For you say, `Where
is the house
of athe nobleman
, And where
is the btent
, the dwelling
places
of the wicked
?'
"Have you not asked wayfaring
men, And do you not recognize
their 1witness
?
"For the awicked is reserved
for the day
of calamity
; They will be led
forth
at bthe day
of fury
.
"Who will 1confront
him with his actions
, And who
will repay
him for what he has done
?
"While he is carried to the grave
, Men will keep
watch
over
his tomb
.
"The aclods of the valley
will 1gently
cover
him; Moreover, ball
men
will 2follow
after
him, While countless
ones go before
him.
"How then will you vainly
acomfort
me, For your answers
remain
full of 1falsehood
?"