English Standard Version

King James Bible

1Then Job answered and said:

1But Job answered and said,

2“Keep listening to my words, and let this be your comfort.

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

3Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.

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

4As for me, is my complaint against man? Why should I not be 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 appalled, and lay your hand over your mouth.

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

6When I remember, I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.

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

7Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?

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

8Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes.

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

9Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.

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

10Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry.

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

11They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance.

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

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

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

13They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.

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

14They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.

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

15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’

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

16Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

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

17“How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God distributes pains in his 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.

18That they are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?

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

19You say, ‘God stores up their iniquity for their children.’ Let him pay it out to them, that they may know it.

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

20Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

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

21For what do they care for their houses after them, when the number of their months is cut off?

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

22Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high?

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

23One dies in his full vigor, being wholly at ease and secure,

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

24his pails full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist.

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

25Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of prosperity.

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

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

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

27“Behold, I know your thoughts and your schemes to wrong me.

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

28For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’

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

29Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony

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

30that the evil man is spared in the day of calamity, that he is rescued in the day of wrath?

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

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

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

32When he is carried to the grave, watch is kept over his tomb.

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

33The clods of the valley are sweet to him; all mankind follows after him, and those who go before him are innumerable.

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

34How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.”

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

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.