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