International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1In response, Job said:

1Then Job answered,

2"Listen carefully to my words; let this encourage all of you.

2"Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be your way of consolation.

3Bear with me and let me speak! Then, after I've spoken, you'll be free to mock me.

3"Bear with me that I may speak; Then after I have spoken, you may mock.

4After all, isn't my complaint against a human being? If so, why shouldn't I be impatient?

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

5Look at me, be appalled, and then shut up!

5"Look at me, and be astonished, And put your hand over your mouth.

6When I think about this, I'm petrified with terror and my body shudders uncontrollably."

6"Even when I remember, I am disturbed, And horror takes hold of my flesh.

7"Why do the wicked live to reach old age and increase in power and wealth, too?

7"Why do the wicked still live, Continue on, also become very powerful?

8Their children grow up while they're alive, and they live to see their grandchildren.

8"Their descendants are established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes,

9Their houses are safe from fear, and God's chastisement never visits them.

9Their houses are safe from fear, And the rod of God is not on them.

10Their bull breeds without fail, and their cows calve without miscarriages.

10"His ox mates without fail; His cow calves and does not abort.

11They release their children to play like sheep; their young ones dance about,

11"They send forth their little ones like the flock, And their children skip about.

12singing with tambourines and lyres as they rejoice to the sound of flutes.

12"They sing to the timbrel and harp And rejoice at the sound of the flute.

13They grow old in prosperity, as they descend peacefully into the afterlife.

13"They spend their days in prosperity, And suddenly they go down to Sheol.

14"They say to God, 'Turn away from us! We have no desire to know your ways.

14"They say to God, 'Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.

15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? Where's the profit in talking to him?'

15'Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, And what would we gain if we entreat Him?'

16Behold! Their prosperity isn't in their control! The counsel of the wicked will remain far from me."

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

17"How often do the wicked have their lights put out? Does calamity ever fall on them? Will God in his anger ever apportion their destruction?

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?

18May they become like a straw, blown away before the wind; like a chaff that's swept off by a storm.

18"Are they as straw before the wind, And like chaff which the storm carries away?

19God stores up their iniquity to repay their children; making them repay so that they may be aware.

19"You say, 'God stores away a man's iniquity for his sons.' Let God repay him so that he may know it.

20Their own eyes will see their destruction; and they'll drink the wrath of the Almighty.

20"Let his own eyes see his decay, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21What will they care for their household after them, when the number of his months comes to an end?"

21"For what does he care for his household after him, When the number of his months is cut off?

22"Can God learn anything? After all, he will judge even the exalted ones.

22"Can anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high?

23Such persons will die in their full vigor, completely prosperous and secure.

23"One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and satisfied;

24His buckets are filled with milk, his bone marrow is healthy.

24His sides are filled out with fat, And the marrow of his bones is moist,

25Others die with a bitter soul, never having tasted the good life.

25While another dies with a bitter soul, Never even tasting anything good.

26They both lie down in the dust; and worms cover them."

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

27"Look! I know your thoughts, your plans are going to harm me.

27"Behold, I know your thoughts, And the plans by which you would wrong me.

28You ask, 'Where is the noble person's house?' and 'Where are the tents where the wicked live?'

28"For you say, 'Where is the house of the nobleman, And where is the tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?'

29Haven't you asked travelers on the highway? Don't you accept their word

29"Have you not asked wayfaring men, And do you not recognize their witness?

30that the wicked person is spared from times of calamity, that he is rescued on the day of wrath?

30"For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity; They will be led forth at the day of fury.

31Who will expose his conduct to his face? Who will repay him for what he has done

31"Who will confront him with his actions, And who will repay him for what he has done?

32when he is carried away to the cemetery and guardians are placed to watch his tomb?

32"While he is carried to the grave, Men will keep watch over his tomb.

33The runoff from the streams will seem sweet to him; everyone will follow after him; countless crows march ahead of him.

33"The clods of the valley will gently cover him; Moreover, all men will follow after him, While countless ones go before him.

34How then, can you console me so worthlessly? What is left of your answers is treachery."

34"How then will you vainly comfort me, For your answers remain full of falsehood?"

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

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