Job

¹ Then Job replied:

² let this be the consolation you give me.

³ and after I have spoken, mock on.

⁴ Why should I not be impatient?

⁵ clap your hand over your mouth.

⁶ trembling seizes my body.

⁷ growing old and increasing in power?

⁸ their offspring before their eyes.

⁹ the rod of God is not upon them.

¹⁰ their cows calve and do not miscarry.

¹¹ their little ones dance about.

¹² they make merry to the sound of the flute.

¹³ and go down to the grave in peace.

¹⁴ We have no desire to know your ways.

¹⁵ What would we gain by praying to him?’

¹⁶ so I stand aloof from the counsel of the wicked.

¹⁷ How often does calamity come upon them, the fate God allots in his anger?

¹⁸ like chaff swept away by a gale?

¹⁹ Let him repay the man himself, so that he will know it!

²⁰ let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

²¹ when his allotted months come to an end?

²² since he judges even the highest?

²³ completely secure and at ease,

²⁴ his bones rich with marrow.

²⁵ never having enjoyed anything good.

²⁶ and worms cover them both.

²⁷ the schemes by which you would wrong me.

²⁸ the tents where wicked men lived?’

²⁹ Have you paid no regard to their accounts—

³⁰ that he is delivered from the day of wrath?

³¹ Who repays him for what he has done?

³² and watch is kept over his tomb.

³³ all men follow after him, and a countless throng goes before him.

³⁴ Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!”