Christian Standard Bible

King James Bible

1Then Job answered:

1But Job answered and said,

2Pay close attention to my words; let this be the consolation you offer.

2Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

3Bear with me while I speak; then after I have spoken, you may continue mocking.

3Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

4As for me, is my complaint against a human being? Then why shouldn't I be impatient?

4As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

5Look at me and shudder; put your hand over your mouth.

5Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

6When I think about it, I am terrified and my body trembles in horror.

6Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

7Why do the wicked continue to live, growing old and becoming powerful?

7Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

8Their children are established while they are still alive, and their descendants, before their eyes.

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

9Their homes are secure and free of fear; no rod from God strikes them.

9Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

10Their bulls breed without fail; their cows calve and do not miscarry.

10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

11They let their little ones run around like lambs; their children skip about,

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

12singing to the tambourine and lyre and rejoicing at the sound of the flute.

12They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

13They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace.

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

14Yet they say to God, "Leave us alone! We don't want to know your ways.

14Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him, and what will we gain by pleading with him?"

15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

16But their prosperity is not of their own doing. The counsel of the wicked is far from me!

16Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come on them? Does he apportion destruction in his anger?

17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

18Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff a storm sweeps away?

18They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

19God reserves a person's punishment for his children. Let God repay the person himself, so that he may know it.

19God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

20Let his own eyes see his demise; let him drink from the Almighty's wrath!

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

21For what does he care about his family once he is dead, when the number of his months has run out?

21For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

22Can anyone teach God knowledge, since he judges the exalted ones?

22Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

23One person dies in excellent health, completely secure and at ease.

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

24His body is well fed, and his bones are full of marrow.

24His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

25Yet another person dies with a bitter soul, having never tasted prosperity.

25And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.

26But they both lie in the dust, and worms cover them.

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

27I know your thoughts very well, the schemes by which you would wrong me.

27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

28For you say, "Where now is the nobleman's house?" and "Where are the tents the wicked lived in?"

28For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

29Have you never consulted those who travel the roads? Don't you accept their reports?

29Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

30Indeed, the evil person is spared from the day of disaster, rescued from the day of wrath.

30That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

31Who would denounce his behavior to his face? Who would repay him for what he has done?

31Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

32He is carried to the grave, and someone keeps watch over his tomb.

32Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.

33The dirt on his grave is sweet to him. Everyone follows behind him, and those who go before him are without number.

33The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

34So how can you offer me such futile comfort? Your answers are deceptive.

34How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.