¹ And Job answered and said,

² Listen carefully to my speech, and let this be your comfort.

³ Rise with me and I shall speak; and after I have spoken, mock on.

⁴ As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should my spirit not be troubled?

⁵ Turn to me and be amazed, and lay your hand on your mouth.

⁶ And if I remember, I am afraid, and trembling takes hold on my flesh.

⁷ Why do the wicked live? They grow old and become mighty in power?

⁸ Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

⁹ Their houses are in peace, without fear; nor is the rod of God on them.

¹⁰ Their bull mates and does not fail; their cow calves, and does not cast her calf.

¹¹ They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

¹² They lift up voice at the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the flute.

¹³ They spend their days in good, and in a moment go down to the grave.

¹⁴ And they say to God, Depart from us; for we do not desire the knowledge of your ways;

¹⁵ what is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit should we have if we pray to Him?

¹⁶ Behold, their good is not in their hand; the wisdom of the wicked is far from me.

¹⁷ How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and their trouble comes on them! He shares out pains in His anger;

¹⁸ they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm steals away.

¹⁹ God lays up his iniquity for his children. He repays him, and he knows.

²⁰ His eyes shall see his ruin, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

²¹ For what is his pleasure in his house after him, and the number of his months is cut off?

²² Shall any teach God knowledge, since He shall judge the exalted?

²³ One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

²⁴ His sides are full of milk, his bones are wet with marrow.

²⁵ And another dies with bitter soul, and never eats with pleasure.

²⁶ They lie down together in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

²⁷ Behold, I know your thoughts, and the plots which you wrongfully hatch against me.

²⁸ For you say, Where is the house of the noble, and where the dwelling-places of the wicked?

²⁹ Did you not ask those who go by the way? And do you not know their signs,

³⁰ that the wicked is kept for the day of calamity? They shall be brought to the day of wrath.

³¹ Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he has done?

³² Yet he shall be brought to the grave, and watch shall be kept over his tomb.

³³ And the clods of the valley shall be sweet to him and every man shall draw after him, as there is no numbering of those before him.

³⁴ How then do you comfort me in vain; yea, in your answers remains transgression?