¹ But Job answered and said:

² Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.

³ Bear with me, that I may speak; And after I have spoken, mock on!

⁴ Is my complaint concerning man? Why then should I not be angry?

⁵ Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!

⁶ When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.

⁷ Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?

⁸ Their children are established in their sight with them, And their offspring before their eyes.

⁹ Their houses are in peace, without fear, And the rod of God cometh not 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 sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

¹³ They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment go down to the under-world.

¹⁴ And yet they say unto God, "Depart from us! We desire not the knowledge of thy ways!

¹⁵ Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what will it profit us, if we pray to him?"

¹⁶ [Ye say,] "Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!"

¹⁷ How often is it, that the lamp of the wicked is put out? And that destruction cometh upon them, And that He dispenseth to them tribulations in his anger?

¹⁸ How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth away?

¹⁹ "But" [say ye] "God layeth up his iniquity for his children." Let him requite the offender, and let him feel it!

²⁰ Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty!

²¹ For what concern hath he for his household after him, When the number of his own months is completed?

²² Who then shall impart knowledge to God,—To him that judgeth the highest?

²³ One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, Being wholly at ease and quiet;

²⁴ His sides are full of fat, And his bones moist with marrow.

²⁵ Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.

²⁶ Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.

²⁷ Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices by which ye wrong me.

²⁸ For ye say, "Where is the house of the oppressor, And where the dwelling-places of the wicked?"

²⁹ Have ye never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know their tokens,

³⁰ That the wicked is spared in the day of destruction, And that he is borne to his grave in the day of wrath?

³¹ Who will charge him with his conduct to his face, And who will requite him for the evil he hath done?

³² Even this man is borne with honor to the grave; Yea, he watcheth over his tomb.

³³ Sweet to him are the sods of the valley: And all men move after him, As multitudes without number before him.

³⁴ Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.