New American Standard Bible 1995

New Living Translation

1Then Job answered,

1Then Job spoke again:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8"Their descendants are established with them in their sight, 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, And the rod of God is not on them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16"Behold, their prosperity 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.)

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?

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?

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

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

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

20"Let his own eyes see his decay, And let him 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24the picture of good health, vigorous and fit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.