Study Desk

Then Job responded,

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

-"Bear with me that I may speak; Then after I have spoken, you may ^(C1)mock me.

-"As for me, is ^(C1)my complaint ^(F1)to a mortal? Or ^(C2)why should ^(F2)I not be impatient?

-"Look at me, and be astonished, And ^(C1)put your hand over your mouth.

-"Even when I remember, I am disturbed, And ^(C1)horror takes hold of my flesh.

-"Why ^(C1)do the wicked still live, Grow old, and also become very ^(F1)(C2)powerful?

-"Their ^(F1)(C1)descendants endure with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes,

Their houses ^(C1)are safe from fear, And the ^(F1)rod of God is not on them.

-"His ox mates ^(F1)without fail; His cow calves and does not miscarry.

-"They send out their boys like the flock, And their children dance.

-"They ^(F1)sing with the tambourine and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the flute.

-"They ^(C1)spend their days in prosperity, And ^(F1)suddenly they go down to ^(F2)Sheol.

-"Yet they say to God, '^(C1)Go away from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.

-'^(F1)Who is ^(F2)the Almighty, that we should serve Him, And ^(C1)what would we gain if we plead with Him?'

-"Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand; The ^(C1)advice of the wicked is far from me.

"How often is ^(C1)the lamp of the wicked put out, Or does their ^(C2)disaster fall on them? Does ^(F1)God apportion destruction in His anger?

-"Are they as ^(C1)straw before the wind, And like ^(C2)chaff which the storm carries away?

-"You say, '^(C1)God saves up ^(F1)a person's ^(F2)wrongdoing for his sons.' Let ^(F3)God repay him so that he may know it.

-"Let his ^(C1)own eyes see his destruction, And let him ^(C2)drink of the wrath of ^(F1)the Almighty.

-"For what does he care about his household ^(F1)after him, When the number of his months is at an end?

-"Can anyone ^(C1)teach God knowledge, In that He ^(C2)judges those on high?

-"One ^(C1)dies in his full strength, Being wholly undisturbed and at ease;

His ^(F1)sides are filled with fat, And the ^(C1)marrow of his bones is wet,

While another dies with a bitter soul, Never even ^(F1)tasting anything good.

-"Together they ^(C1)lie down in the dust, And ^(C2)maggots cover them.

"Behold, I know your thoughts, And the plots you devise against me.

-"For you say, 'Where is the house of ^(C1)the nobleman, And where is the ^(C2)tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?'

-"Have you not asked travelers, And do you not examine their ^(F1)evidence?

-"For the ^(C1)wicked person is spared ^(F1)a day of disaster; They ^(F2)are led away from ^(C2)a day of fury.

-"Who ^(F1)confronts him with his actions, And who repays him for what he has done?

-"When he is carried to the grave, People will keep watch over his tomb.

-"The ^(C1)clods of the valley will ^(F1)gently cover him; Moreover, ^(C2)all mankind will ^(F2)follow after him, While countless others go before him.

-"So how dare you give me empty ^(C1)comfort? For your answers remain nothing but falsehood!"