Study Desk

Then Job replied:

Then Job replied:

"Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you give me.

"Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you give me.

Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.

Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.

"Is my complaint directed to man? Why should I not be impatient?

"Is my complaint directed to a human being? Why should I not be impatient?

Look at me and be astonished; clap your hand over your mouth.

Look at me and be appalled; clap your hand over your mouth.

When I think about this, I am terrified; trembling seizes my body.

When I think about this, I am terrified; trembling seizes my body.

Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?

Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?

They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes.

They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes.

Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not upon them.

Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not on them.

Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry.

Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry.

They send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about.

They send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about.

They sing to the music of tambourine and harp; they make merry to the sound of the flute.

They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre; they make merry to the sound of the pipe.

They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.

They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.

Yet they say to God, 'Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways.

Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways.

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?'

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?'

But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the counsel of the wicked.

But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.

"Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does calamity come upon them, the fate God allots in his anger?

"Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does calamity come upon them, the fate God allots in his anger?

How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a gale?

How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a gale?

It is said, 'God stores up a man's punishment for his sons.' Let him repay the man himself, so that he will know it!

It is said, ‘God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.' Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it!

Let his own eyes see his destruction; let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

Let their own eyes see their destruction; let them drink the cup of the wrath of the Almighty.

For what does he care about the family he leaves behind when his allotted months come to an end?

For what do they care about the families they leave behind when their allotted months come to an end?

"Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?

"Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?

One man dies in full vigor, completely secure and at ease,

One person dies in full vigor, completely secure and at ease,

his body well nourished, his bones rich with marrow.

well nourished in body, bones rich with marrow.

Another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good.

Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good.

Side by side they lie in the dust, and worms cover them both.

Side by side they lie in the dust, and worms cover them both.

"I know full well what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me.

"I know full well what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me.

You say, 'Where now is the great man's house, the tents where wicked men lived?'

You say, ‘Where now is the house of the great, the tents where the wicked lived?'

Have you never questioned those who travel? Have you paid no regard to their accounts-

Have you never questioned those who travel? Have you paid no regard to their accounts—

that the evil man is spared from the day of calamity, that he is delivered from the day of wrath?

that the wicked are spared from the day of calamity, that they are delivered from the day of wrath?

Who denounces his conduct to his face? Who repays him for what he has done?

Who denounces their conduct to their face? Who repays them for what they have done?

He is carried to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.

They are carried to the grave, and watch is kept over their tombs.

The soil in the valley is sweet to him; all men follow after him, and a countless throng goes before him.

The soil in the valley is sweet to them; everyone follows after them, and a countless throng goes before them.

"So how can you console me with your nonsense? Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!"

"So how can you console me with your nonsense? Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!"