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