King James Bible

New Living Translation

1But Job answered and said,

1Then Job spoke again:

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

2“Listen closely to what I am saying. That’s one consolation you can give me.

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

3Bear with me, and let me speak. After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.

4As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

4“My complaint is with God, not with people. I have good reason to be so impatient.

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

5Look at me and be stunned. Put your hand over your mouth in shock.

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

6When I think about what I am saying, I shudder. My body trembles.

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

7“Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful?

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

8They live to see their children grow up and settle down, and they enjoy their grandchildren.

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

9Their homes are safe from every fear, and God does not punish them.

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

10Their bulls never fail to breed. Their cows bear calves and never miscarry.

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

11They let their children frisk about like lambs. Their little ones skip and dance.

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

12They sing with tambourine and harp. They celebrate to the sound of the flute.

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

13They spend their days in prosperity, then go down to the grave in peace.

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

14And yet they say to God, ‘Go away. We want no part of you and your ways.

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

15Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him? What good will it do us to pray?’

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

16(They think their prosperity is of their own doing, but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)

17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

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?

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

18Are they driven before the wind like straw? Are they carried away by the storm like chaff? Not at all!

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

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.

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

20Let them see their destruction with their own eyes. Let them drink deeply of the anger of the Almighty.

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

21For they will not care what happens to their family after they are dead.

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

22“But who can teach a lesson to God, since he judges even the most powerful?

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

23One person dies in prosperity, completely comfortable and secure,

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

24the picture of good health, vigorous and fit.

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

25Another person dies in bitter poverty, never having tasted the good life.

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

26But both are buried in the same dust, both eaten by the same maggots.

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

27“Look, I know what you’re thinking. I know the schemes you plot against me.

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

28You will tell me of rich and wicked people whose houses have vanished because of their sins.

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

29But ask those who have been around, and they will tell you the truth.

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

30Evil people are spared in times of calamity and are allowed to escape disaster.

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

31No one criticizes them openly or pays them back for what they have done.

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

32When they are carried to the grave, an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.

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

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.

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

34“How can your empty clichés comfort me? All your explanations are lies!”

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

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.