1
ASV
Then Job answered and said,
2
ASV
Hear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations.
3
ASV
Suffer me, and I also will speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on.
4
ASV
As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?
5
ASV
Mark me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth.
6
ASV
Even when I remember I am troubled, And horror taketh hold on my flesh.
7
ASV
Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
8
ASV
Their seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.
9
ASV
Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.
10
ASV
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11
ASV
They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.
12
ASV
They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
13
ASV
They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol.
14
ASV
And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
15
ASV
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
16
ASV
Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17
ASV
How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity cometh upon them? That [God] distributeth sorrows in his anger?
18
ASV
That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
19
ASV
[Ye say], God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it:
20
ASV
Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21
ASV
For what careth he for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off?
22
ASV
Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?
23
ASV
One dieth in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet:
24
ASV
His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened.
25
ASV
And another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good.
26
ASV
They lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them.
27
ASV
Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me.
28
ASV
For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?
29
ASV
Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences,
30
ASV
That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?
31
ASV
Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?
32
ASV
Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb.
33
ASV
The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him.
34
ASV
How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth [only] falsehood?
ASV: American Standard Version (1901). Public domain.