¶ But Job answered and said,

Hear¹ diligently my speech, and let this be² your consolations.

Suffer me that I may³ speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on⁴.

As for me, is my complaint⁵ to man? and if it were⁶ so, why should not my spirit be troubled⁷?

Mark me,⁸ and be astonished, and lay your⁹ hand upon your mouth.

Even when¹⁰ I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

¶ Wherefore¹¹ do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty¹² in power?

¹³Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

Their houses are safe from fear¹⁴, neither is the rod¹⁵ of God upon them.

¶ Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow¹⁶ calveth, and casteth not her calf.

¹⁷They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

¹⁸They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

They¹⁹ spend their days in wealth²⁰, and in a moment go down to the grave.

Therefore they say²¹ unto God, Depart from us; for we²² desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

What is²³ the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what²⁴ profit should we have, if we²⁵ pray unto him?

Lo,²⁶ their good is not in their hand: the counsel²⁷ of the wicked is far from me.

¶ How oft²⁸ is the candle²⁹ of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

They are as stubble³⁰ before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth³¹ away.

God layeth³² up his iniquity³³ for his³⁴ children: he rewardeth³⁵ him, and he shall³⁶ know it.

¶ His eyes shall see³⁷ his destruction, and he shall drink³⁸ of the wrath of the Almighty.

For what³⁹ pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number⁴⁰ of his months is cut off in the midst?

Shall any teach⁴¹ God knowledge? seeing he judgeth⁴² those that are high.

One dieth in his full strength⁴³, being wholly at ease and quiet.

His breasts⁴⁴ are full of milk, and his bones are moistened⁴⁵ with marrow.

And another dieth in the bitterness⁴⁶ of his soul, and never⁴⁷ eateth with pleasure.

They shall lie down alike⁴⁸ in the dust, and the worms⁴⁹ shall cover them.

¶ Behold, I know⁵⁰ your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully⁵¹ imagine against me.

For ye say, Where⁵² is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places⁵³ of the wicked?

Have ye not asked them that go by⁵⁴ the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

¶ That the wicked⁵⁵ is reserved to the day⁵⁶ of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath⁵⁷.

Who shall declare⁵⁸ his way to his face? and who shall repay⁵⁹ him what he hath done?

Yet shall he be⁶⁰ brought to the grave⁶¹, and shall remain in the tomb.

The clods of the valley shall be sweet⁶² unto him, and every man⁶³ shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

How then comfort⁶⁴ ye me in vain, seeing⁶⁵ in your answers there remaineth falsehood⁶⁶?