Job: God will Deal with the Wicked
1But Job answered and said,
2Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
3Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
5Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
7Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
8Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
13They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
14Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
16Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
18They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
19God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.
20His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath 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?
22Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
23One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
26They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,
30That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
33The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
34How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Job: God Will Punish the Wicked
1 Then Job answered,
2 “Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
3 Allow me, and I also will speak; After I have spoken, mock on.
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?
5 Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
6 When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
7 “Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
12 They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
13 They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol.
14 They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about your ways.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’
16 Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 “How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger?
18 How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
19 You say, ‘God lays up his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 “Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?
23 One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
26 They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
27 “Behold, I know your thoughts, the devices with which you would wrong me.
28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
29 Haven’t you asked wayfaring men? Don’t you know their evidences,
30 that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, That they are led forth to the day of wrath?
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? Who shall repay him what he has done?
32 Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men shall keep watch over the tomb.
33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him. All men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”
Job: God Will Punish the Wicked
1 Then Job answered:
2 “Listen carefully to my words;
let this be your consolation to me.
3 Bear with me while I speak;
then, after I have spoken, you may go on mocking.
4 Is my complaint against a man?
Then why should I not be impatient?
5 Look at me and be appalled;
put your hand over your mouth.
6 When I remember, terror takes hold,
and my body trembles in horror.
7 Why do the wicked live on,
growing old and increasing in power?
8 Their descendants are established around them,
and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their homes are safe from fear;
no rod of punishment from God is upon them.
10 Their bulls breed without fail;
their cows bear calves and do not miscarry.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock;
their children skip about,
12 singing to the tambourine and lyre
and making merry at the sound of the flute.
13 They spend their days in prosperity
and go down to Sheol in peace. a
14 Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone!
For we have no desire to know Your ways.
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him,
and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’
16 Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands,
so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.
17 How often is the lamp of the wicked put out?
Does disaster come upon them?
Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction?
18 Are they like straw before the wind,
like chaff swept away by a storm?
19 It is said that God lays up one’s punishment for his children.
Let God repay the man himself, so he will know it.
20 Let his eyes see his own destruction;
let him drink for himself the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what does he care about his household after him,
when the number of his months has run out?
22 Can anyone teach knowledge to God,
since He judges those on high?
23 One man dies full of vigor,
completely secure and at ease.
24 His body is well nourished, b
and his bones are rich with marrow.
25 Yet another man dies in the bitterness of his soul,
having never tasted prosperity.
26 But together they lie down in the dust,
and worms cover them both.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts full well,
the schemes by which you would wrong me.
28 For you say, ‘Where now is the nobleman’s house,
and where are the tents in which the wicked dwell?’
29 Have you never asked those who travel the roads?
Do you not accept their reports?
30 Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of calamity,
delivered from the day of wrath.
31 Who denounces his behavior to his face?
Who repays him for what he has done?
32 He is carried to the grave,
and watch is kept over his tomb.
33 The clods of the valley are sweet to him;
everyone follows behind him,
and those before him are without number.
34 So how can you comfort me with empty words?
For your answers remain full of falsehood.”
Footnotes:
13 a Or in an instant
24 b Literally His pails are full of milk
Job: God will Deal with the Wicked
1And Job answereth and saith: --
2Hear ye diligently my word, And this is your consolation.
3Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking -- ye may deride.
4I -- to man is my complaint? and if so, wherefore May not my temper become short?
5Turn unto me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.
6Yea, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh hath taken fright.
7Wherefore do the wicked live? They have become old, Yea, they have been mighty in wealth.
8Their seed is established, Before their face with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
9Their houses are peace without fear, Nor is a rod of God upon them.
10His bullock hath eaten corn, and doth not loath. His cow bringeth forth safely, And doth not miscarry.
11They send forth as a flock their sucklings, And their children skip,
12They lift themselves up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of an organ.
13They wear out in good their days, And in a moment to Sheol go down.
14And they say to God, 'Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Thy ways We have not desired.
15What is the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?'
16Lo, not in their hand is their good, (The counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.)
17How oft is the lamp of the wicked extinguished, And come on them doth their calamity? Pangs He apportioneth in His anger.
18They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a hurricane hath stolen away,
19God layeth up for his sons his sorrow, He giveth recompense unto him -- and he knoweth.
20His own eyes see his destruction, And of the wrath of the Mighty he drinketh.
21For what is his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off?
22To God doth one teach knowledge, And He the high doth judge?
23This one dieth in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.
24His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow his bones doth moisten.
25And this one dieth with a bitter soul, And have not eaten with gladness.
26Together -- on the dust they lie down, And the worm doth cover them over.
27Lo, I have known your thoughts, And the devices against me ye do wrongfully.
28For ye say, 'Where is the house of the noble? And where the tent -- The tabernacles of the wicked?'
29Have ye not asked those passing by the way? And their signs do ye not know?
30That to a day of calamity is the wicked spared. To a day of wrath they are brought.
31Who doth declare to his face his way? And for that which he hath done, Who doth give recompence to him?
32And he -- to the graves he is brought. And over the heap a watch is kept.
33Sweet to him have been the clods of the valley, And after him every man he draweth, And before him there is no numbering.
34And how do ye comfort me with vanity, And in your answers hath been left trespass?
