^[1]  Then Job answered and said,

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^[2]  Hear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations.

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^[3]  Suffer me, and I also will speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on.

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^[4]  As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?

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^[5]  Mark me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth.

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^[6]  Even when I remember I am troubled, And horror taketh hold on my flesh.

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^[7]  Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

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^[8]  Their seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.

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^[9]  Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.

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^[10]  Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

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^[11]  They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.

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^[12]  They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

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^[13]  They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol.

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^[14]  And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

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^[15]  What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

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^[16]  Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

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^[17]  How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity cometh upon them? ThatGod distributeth sorrows in his anger?

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^[18]  That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

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^[19]  Ye say, God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it:

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^[20]  Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

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^[21]  For what careth he for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off?

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^[22]  Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?

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^[23]  One dieth in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet:

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^[24]  His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened.

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^[25]  And another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good.

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^[26]  They lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them.

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^[27]  Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me.

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^[28]  For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?

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^[29]  Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences,

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^[30]  That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?

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^[31]  Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?

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^[32]  Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb.

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^[33]  The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him.

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^[34]  How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth only falsehood?

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