English Standard Version

Christian Standard Bible

1Then Job answered and said:

1Then Job answered:

2“Keep listening to my words, and let this be your comfort.

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

3Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.

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

4As for me, is my complaint against man? Why should I not be impatient?

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

5Look at me and be appalled, and lay your hand over your mouth.

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

6When I remember, I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.

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

7Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?

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

8Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes.

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

9Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.

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

10Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry.

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

11They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance.

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

12They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.

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

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

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

14They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.

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

15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’

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

16Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

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

17“How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God distributes pains in his anger?

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

18That they are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?

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

19You say, ‘God stores up their iniquity for their children.’ Let him pay it out to them, that they may know it.

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

20Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

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

21For what do they care for their houses after them, when the number of their months is cut off?

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

22Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high?

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

23One dies in his full vigor, being wholly at ease and secure,

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

24his pails full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist.

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

25Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of prosperity.

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

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

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

27“Behold, I know your thoughts and your schemes to wrong me.

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

28For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’

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

29Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony

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

30that the evil man is spared in the day of calamity, that he is rescued in the day of wrath?

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

31Who declares his way to his face, and who repays him for what he has done?

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

32When he is carried to the grave, watch is kept over his tomb.

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

33The clods of the valley are sweet to him; all mankind follows after him, and those who go before him are innumerable.

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

34How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.”

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

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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