New Living Translation

King James Bible

1Then Job spoke again:

1But Job answered and said,

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

2Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

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

3Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

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

4As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

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

5Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

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

6Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

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

7Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

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

8Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

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

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

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

10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

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

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

12They sing with tambourine and harp. They celebrate to the sound of the flute.

12They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

13They spend their days in prosperity, then go down to the grave in peace.

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

14And yet they say to God, ‘Go away. We want no part of you and your ways.

14Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

15Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him? What good will it do us to pray?’

15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

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

16Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

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?

17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

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

18They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

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.

19God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

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

20His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

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

21For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

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

22Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

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

23One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

24the picture of good health, vigorous and fit.

24His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

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

25And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.

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

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

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

27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

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

28For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

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

29Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

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

30That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

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

31Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

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

32Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.

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.

33The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

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

34How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?

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.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.