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