New King James Version

New Living Translation

1Then Job answered and said:

1Then Job spoke again:

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

2“Listen closely to what I am saying. That’s one consolation you can give me.

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

3Bear with me, and let me speak. After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.

4“As for me, is my complaint against man? And if it were, why should I not be impatient?

4“My complaint is with God, not with people. I have good reason to be so impatient.

5Look at me and be astonished; Put your hand over your mouth.

5Look at me and be stunned. Put your hand over your mouth in shock.

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

6When I think about what I am saying, I shudder. My body trembles.

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

7“Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful?

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

8They live to see their children grow up and settle down, and they enjoy their grandchildren.

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

9Their homes are safe from every fear, and God does not punish them.

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

10Their bulls never fail to breed. Their cows bear calves and never miscarry.

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

11They let their children frisk about like lambs. Their little ones skip and dance.

12They sing to the tambourine and harp, And rejoice to the sound of the flute.

12They sing with tambourine and harp. They celebrate to 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, then go down to the grave in peace.

14Yet they say to God, ‘Depart from us, For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.

14And yet they say to God, ‘Go away. We want no part of you and 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, and why should we obey him? What good will it do us to pray?’

16Indeed their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

16(They think their prosperity is of their own doing, but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)

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?

17“Yet the light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished. Do they ever have trouble? Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger?

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

18Are they driven before the wind like straw? Are they carried away by the storm like chaff? Not at all!

19They say, ‘God lays up one’s iniquity for his children’; Let Him recompense him, that he may know it.

19“‘Well,’ you say, ‘at least God will punish their children!’ But I say he should punish the ones who sin, so that they understand his judgment.

20Let his eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

20Let them see their destruction with their own eyes. Let them drink deeply of the anger of the Almighty.

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

21For they will not care what happens to their family after they are dead.

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

22“But who can teach a lesson to God, since he judges even the most powerful?

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

23One person dies in prosperity, completely comfortable and secure,

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

24the picture of good health, vigorous and fit.

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

25Another person dies in bitter poverty, never having tasted the good life.

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

26But both are buried in the same dust, both eaten by the same maggots.

27“Look, I know your thoughts, And the schemes with which you would wrong me.

27“Look, I know what you’re thinking. I know the schemes you plot against me.

28For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent, The dwelling place of the wicked?’

28You will tell me of rich and wicked people whose houses have vanished because of their sins.

29Have you not asked those who travel the road? And do you not know their signs?

29But ask those who have been around, and they will tell you the truth.

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

30Evil people are spared in times of calamity and are allowed to escape disaster.

31Who condemns his way to his face? And who repays him for what he has done?

31No one criticizes them openly or pays them back for what they have done.

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

32When they are carried to the grave, an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.

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

33A great funeral procession goes to the cemetery. Many pay their respects as the body is laid to rest, and the earth gives sweet repose.

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

34“How can your empty clichés comfort me? All your explanations are lies!”

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

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.