1But Job answered, and said,
2Hear diligently my words, and this shall be instead of your consolations.
3Suffer me that I may speak, and when I have spoken, mock on.
4Do I direct my talk to man? If it were so, how should not my spirit be troubled?
5Mark me, and be abashed, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6Even when I remember, I am afraid, and fear taketh hold on my flesh.
7Wherefore do the wicked live, and wax old, and grow in wealth?
8Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes.
9Their houses are peaceable without fear, and the rod of God is not upon them.
10Their bullock gendereth, and faileth not: their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11They send forth their children like sheep, and their sons dance.
12They take the tambourine and harp, and rejoice in the sound of the organs.
13They spend their days in wealth, and suddenly they go down to the grave.
14They say also unto God, Depart from us: for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we should pray unto him?
16Lo, their wealth is not in their hand: therefore let the counsel of the wicked be far from me.
17How oft shall the candle of the wicked be put out and their destruction come upon them? he will divide their lives in his wrath.
18They shall be as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
19God will lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: when he rewardeth him, he shall know it.
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?
22Shall any teach God knowledge, who judgeth the highest things?
23One dieth in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperity.
24His breasts are full of milk, and his bones run full of marrow.
25And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
26They shall sleep both in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the enterprises wherewith ye do me wrong.
28For ye say, Where is the prince’s house? and where is the tabernacle of the wicked’s dwelling?
29May ye not ask them that go by the way? and ye cannot deny their signs.
30But the wicked is kept unto the day of destruction, and they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall reward him for that he hath done?
32Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and remain in the heap.
33The slimy valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as before him there were innumerable.
34How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answer there remain but lies?