New King James Version

Christian Standard Bible

1Then Job answered and said:

1Then Job answered:

2“Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be your consolation.

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

3Bear with me that I may speak, And after I have spoken, keep mocking.

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

4“As for me, is my complaint against man? And if it were, 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 astonished; Put your hand over your mouth.

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

6Even when I remember I am terrified, And trembling takes hold of my flesh.

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

7Why do the wicked live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power?

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

8Their descendants are established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.

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

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

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

10Their bull breeds without failure; Their cow calves without miscarriage.

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

11They send forth their little ones 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 harp, And rejoice to the sound of the flute.

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

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

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

14Yet they say to God, ‘Depart from us, For 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.

15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?’

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

16Indeed their prosperity is not 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 the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does their destruction come upon them, The sorrows God distributes 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?

18They are like straw before the wind, And like chaff that a storm carries away.

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

19They say, ‘God lays up one’s iniquity for his children’; Let Him recompense him, that he 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 his eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

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

21For what does he care about his household after him, When the number of his months is cut in half?

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

22“Can anyone teach God knowledge, Since He judges those on high?

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

23One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and secure;

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

24His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moist.

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

25Another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, Never having eaten with pleasure.

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

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

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

27“Look, I know your thoughts, And the schemes with which you would 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? And where is the tent, The dwelling place of the wicked?’

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 road? And do you not know their signs?

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

30For the wicked are reserved for the day of doom; They shall be brought out on the day of wrath.

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

31Who condemns 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?

32Yet he shall be brought to the grave, And a vigil kept over the tomb.

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

33The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him; Everyone shall follow him, As countless have gone before him.

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

34How then can you comfort me with empty words, Since falsehood remains in your answers?”

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

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