International Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
1In response, Job said: | 1Then Job answered, |
2"Listen carefully to my words; let this encourage all of you. | 2"Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be your way of consolation. |
3Bear with me and let me speak! Then, after I've spoken, you'll be free to mock me. | 3"Bear with me that I may speak; Then after I have spoken, you may mock. |
4After all, isn't my complaint against a human being? If so, why shouldn't I be impatient? | 4"As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient? |
5Look at me, be appalled, and then shut up! | 5"Look at me, and be astonished, And put your hand over your mouth. |
6When I think about this, I'm petrified with terror and my body shudders uncontrollably." | 6"Even when I remember, I am disturbed, And horror takes hold of my flesh. |
7"Why do the wicked live to reach old age and increase in power and wealth, too? | 7"Why do the wicked still live, Continue on, also become very powerful? |
8Their children grow up while they're alive, and they live to see their grandchildren. | 8"Their descendants are established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes, |
9Their houses are safe from fear, and God's chastisement never visits them. | 9Their houses are safe from fear, And the rod of God is not on them. |
10Their bull breeds without fail, and their cows calve without miscarriages. | 10"His ox mates without fail; His cow calves and does not abort. |
11They release their children to play like sheep; their young ones dance about, | 11"They send forth their little ones like the flock, And their children skip about. |
12singing with tambourines and lyres as they rejoice to the sound of flutes. | 12"They sing to the timbrel and harp And rejoice at the sound of the flute. |
13They grow old in prosperity, as they descend peacefully into the afterlife. | 13"They spend their days in prosperity, And suddenly they go down to Sheol. |
14"They say to God, 'Turn away from us! We have no desire to know your ways. | 14"They say to God, 'Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways. |
15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? Where's the profit in talking to him?' | 15'Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, And what would we gain if we entreat Him?' |
16Behold! Their prosperity isn't in their control! The counsel of the wicked will remain far from me." | 16"Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is far from me. |
17"How often do the wicked have their lights put out? Does calamity ever fall on them? Will God in his anger ever apportion their destruction? | 17"How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, Or does their calamity fall on them? Does God apportion destruction in His anger? |
18May they become like a straw, blown away before the wind; like a chaff that's swept off by a storm. | 18"Are they as straw before the wind, And like chaff which the storm carries away? |
19God stores up their iniquity to repay their children; making them repay so that they may be aware. | 19"You say, 'God stores away a man's iniquity for his sons.' Let God repay him so that he may know it. |
20Their own eyes will see their destruction; and they'll drink the wrath of the Almighty. | 20"Let his own eyes see his decay, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty. |
21What will they care for their household after them, when the number of his months comes to an end?" | 21"For what does he care for his household after him, When the number of his months is cut off? |
22"Can God learn anything? After all, he will judge even the exalted ones. | 22"Can anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high? |
23Such persons will die in their full vigor, completely prosperous and secure. | 23"One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and satisfied; |
24His buckets are filled with milk, his bone marrow is healthy. | 24His sides are filled out with fat, And the marrow of his bones is moist, |
25Others die with a bitter soul, never having tasted the good life. | 25While another dies with a bitter soul, Never even tasting anything good. |
26They both lie down in the dust; and worms cover them." | 26"Together they lie down in the dust, And worms cover them. |
27"Look! I know your thoughts, your plans are going to harm me. | 27"Behold, I know your thoughts, And the plans by which you would wrong me. |
28You ask, 'Where is the noble person's house?' and 'Where are the tents where the wicked live?' | 28"For you say, 'Where is the house of the nobleman, And where is the tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?' |
29Haven't you asked travelers on the highway? Don't you accept their word | 29"Have you not asked wayfaring men, And do you not recognize their witness? |
30that the wicked person is spared from times of calamity, that he is rescued on the day of wrath? | 30"For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity; They will be led forth at the day of fury. |
31Who will expose his conduct to his face? Who will repay him for what he has done | 31"Who will confront him with his actions, And who will repay him for what he has done? |
32when he is carried away to the cemetery and guardians are placed to watch his tomb? | 32"While he is carried to the grave, Men will keep watch over his tomb. |
33The runoff from the streams will seem sweet to him; everyone will follow after him; countless crows march ahead of him. | 33"The clods of the valley will gently cover him; Moreover, all men will follow after him, While countless ones go before him. |
34How then, can you console me so worthlessly? What is left of your answers is treachery." | 34"How then will you vainly comfort me, For your answers remain full of falsehood?" |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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