1And Iyoḇ answered and said,

2“Listen closely to my word, and let this be your comfort.

3Bear with me and let me speak, and after I have spoken, keep mocking.

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

5Look at me and be appalled, then put your hand on your mouth.

6And when I consider it I am frightened, and my body shudders.

7Why do the wrong live, become old, and become mighty in powera?

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

9Their houses are peace without fear, neither is the rod of Eloah upon them.

10Their bull breeds and does not fail, their cow calves without miscarriage.

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

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

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

14And they say to Ěl, ‘Turn aside from us, for we have no desire to know Your ways.

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

16See, is their good not in their own hand? (The counsel of the wrong has been far from me).

17How often is the lamp of the wrong put out, and does come upon them their calamity, sorrows He allots in His displeasure?

18They are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that a storm steals away.

19You say, ‘Eloah stores up one’s wickedness for his children.’ Let Him repay him, so that he knows it.

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

21For what is his delight in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?

22Does anyone teach Ěl knowledge, since He judges those that are exalted?

23One dies in his perfect strength, completely at ease and satisfied;

24His pails are filled with milk, and his bones are juicy with marrow.

25Another one dies in the bitterness of his being, and never eats with pleasure.

26Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them.

27Look, I know your thoughts, and the plots with which you would wrong me.

28For you say, ‘Where is the house of the noble one? And where is the tent, the dwelling place of the wrong ones?’

29Have you not asked those passing by the way? And do you not know their signs?

30That the wicked is kept for the day of calamity. They are brought to the day of wrath.

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

32As for him, he is brought to the grave, and a watch is kept over the tomb.

33The clods of the wadi shall be sweet to him, and all men follow him, innumerable are those before him.

34How then do you comfort me in vain, seeing that perverseness remains in your answers?”