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