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