Job

But Job answered and said,

1Then Job answered:

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

2"Listen carefully to what I say. Let hearing me out be the comfort you give me.

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

3Put up with me while I speak. After I have finished, go ahead and mock me.

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

4Am I making my complaint to a human being? No. So why should I not run out of patience?

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

5Look at me and be shocked. Put your hand over your mouth and say nothing.

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

6When I think about it, fear grabs me, and my whole body shakes.

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

7Why do wicked people go on living? They grow old, and they grow strong and powerful.

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

8They watch their children grow up safe around them. Their grandchildren stand right in front of their eyes.

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

9Their homes are safe, and nothing frightens them. God's stick of punishment never falls on them.

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

10Their bulls breed every time. Their cows give birth, and never lose a calf.

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

11They send their little ones out to play like a flock of lambs. Their children dance.

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

12They pick up the drum and the harp. They have a good time while the pipe plays.

NoteThe KJV word "organ" does not mean a church organ. It means a simple pipe or flute. A "timbrel" is a small hand drum.

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

13They spend their days doing well. Then, in a moment, they 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 all the while they say to God, 'Leave us alone. We do not want to know 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, that we should serve him? What would we get out of praying to him?'

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

16Yet the good things they have did not come from their own hands. Still, I want no part of how wicked people think.

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

17How often is the lamp of the wicked really snuffed out? How often does disaster actually reach them? How often does God, in anger, hand out sorrow?

NoteThe KJV prints verse 17 as exclamations, but Job is asking questions, and he expects the answer to be "hardly ever."

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

18How often are they like dry straw in the wind, or husks swept away by a storm?

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

19You say God saves up a man's punishment for his children. I say let God pay the man himself, so he feels it.

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

20Let his own eyes watch his ruin. Let him drink the anger of the Almighty himself.

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

21Why would he care about his family after he is gone, once his months are used up?

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

22Can anyone teach God something he does not know? He is the one who judges even those on high.

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

23One man dies at his full strength, completely safe and comfortable.

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

24His body is well fed, and his bones are strong and healthy.

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

25Another man dies with a bitter heart, having never enjoyed one good thing.

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

26The two of them lie down side by side in the dust, and worms cover them both.

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

27Look, I know what you are thinking. I know the schemes you use to wrong me.

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

28You say, 'Where is the rich man's house now? Where are the tents the wicked lived in?'

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

29Have you never asked people who travel the roads? Do you not believe the stories they bring back?

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

30They say the wicked man is held back on the day of disaster and carried away safe on the day of anger.

Note"Reserved to the day of destruction" means held back or kept safe when the day of trouble comes, not saved up for punishment.

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

31Who ever tells him to his face what he has done? Who ever pays him back for it?

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

32He is carried to the grave with honor, and a watch is kept over his tomb.

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

33The soft dirt of the valley rests easy on him. Crowds walk behind him, and countless others went before.

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

34So how can you comfort me with empty words? Every answer you give me is false."