New Living Translation | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
1Then Job spoke again: | 1Then Job answered, |
2“Listen closely to what I am saying. That’s one consolation you can give me. | 2"Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be your way of consolation. |
3Bear with me, and let me speak. After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me. | 3"Bear with me that I may speak; Then after I have spoken, you may mock. |
4“My complaint is with God, not with people. I have good reason to be so impatient. | 4"As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient? |
5Look at me and be stunned. Put your hand over your mouth in shock. | 5"Look at me, and be astonished, And put your hand over your mouth. |
6When I think about what I am saying, I shudder. My body trembles. | 6"Even when I remember, I am disturbed, And horror takes hold of my flesh. |
7“Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful? | 7"Why do the wicked still live, Continue on, also become very powerful? |
8They live to see their children grow up and settle down, and they enjoy their grandchildren. | 8"Their descendants are established with them in their sight, 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, And the rod of God is not on them. |
10Their bulls never fail to breed. Their cows bear calves and never miscarry. | 10"His ox mates without fail; His cow calves and does not abort. |
11They let their children frisk about like lambs. Their little ones skip and dance. | 11"They send forth their little ones like the flock, And their children skip about. |
12They sing with tambourine and harp. They celebrate to the sound of the flute. | 12"They sing to the timbrel and harp And rejoice at the sound of the flute. |
13They spend their days in prosperity, then go down to the grave in peace. | 13"They spend their days in prosperity, And suddenly they go down to Sheol. |
14And yet they say to God, ‘Go away. We want no part of you and your ways. | 14"They say to God, 'Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways. |
15Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him? What good will it do us to pray?’ | 15'Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, And what would we gain if we entreat Him?' |
16(They think their prosperity is of their own doing, but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.) | 16"Behold, their prosperity 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? | 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? |
18Are they driven before the wind like straw? Are they carried away by the storm like chaff? Not at all! | 18"Are they as straw before the wind, And like chaff which the storm carries 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. | 19"You say, 'God stores away a man's iniquity for his sons.' Let God repay him so that he may know it. |
20Let them see their destruction with their own eyes. Let them drink deeply of the anger of the Almighty. | 20"Let his own eyes see his decay, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty. |
21For they will not care what happens to their family after they are dead. | 21"For what does he care for his household after him, When the number of his months is cut off? |
22“But who can teach a lesson to God, since he judges even the most powerful? | 22"Can anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high? |
23One person dies in prosperity, completely comfortable and secure, | 23"One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and satisfied; |
24the picture of good health, vigorous and fit. | 24His sides are filled out with fat, And the marrow of his bones is moist, |
25Another person dies in bitter poverty, never having tasted the good life. | 25While another dies with a bitter soul, Never even tasting anything good. |
26But both are buried in the same dust, both eaten by the same maggots. | 26"Together they lie down in the dust, And worms cover them. |
27“Look, I know what you’re thinking. I know the schemes you plot against me. | 27"Behold, I know your thoughts, And the plans by which you would wrong me. |
28You will tell me of rich and wicked people whose houses have vanished because of their sins. | 28"For you say, 'Where is the house of the nobleman, And where is the tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?' |
29But ask those who have been around, and they will tell you the truth. | 29"Have you not asked wayfaring men, And do you not recognize their witness? |
30Evil people are spared in times of calamity and are allowed to escape disaster. | 30"For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity; They will be led forth at the day of fury. |
31No one criticizes them openly or pays them back for what they have done. | 31"Who will confront him with his actions, And who will repay him for what he has done? |
32When they are carried to the grave, an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb. | 32"While he is carried to the grave, Men will keep watch over his 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. | 33"The clods of the valley will gently cover him; Moreover, all men will follow after him, While countless ones go before him. |
34“How can your empty clichés comfort me? All your explanations are lies!” | 34"How then will you vainly comfort me, For your answers remain full of 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. | 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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