English Standard Version ESV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Then Job answered and said:
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Then Job answered:
2 “Keep listening to my words, and let this be your comfort.
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"Listen carefully to my words, and let this be your consolation.
3 Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.
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Bear with me, and I will speak; then after I have spoken, mock on.
4 As for me, is my complaint against man? Why should I not be impatient?
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As for me, is my complaint addressed to mortals? Why should I not be impatient?
5 Look at me and be appalled, and lay your hand over your mouth.
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Look at me, and be appalled, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 When I remember, I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.
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When I think of it I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.
7 Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?
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Why do the wicked live on, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes.
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Their children are established in their presence, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.
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Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.
10 Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry.
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Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and never miscarries.
11 They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance.
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They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children dance around.
12 They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.
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They sing to the tambourine and the lyre, and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.
13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.
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They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.
14 They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.
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They say to God, "Leave us alone! We do not desire to know your ways.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him? ’
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What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?'
16 Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
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Is not their prosperity indeed their own achievement? The plans of the wicked are repugnant to me.
17 “How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God distributes pains in his anger?
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"How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does calamity come upon them? How often does God distribute pains in his anger?
18 That they are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?
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How often are they like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?
19 You say, ‘God stores up their iniquity for their children. ’Let him pay it out to them, that they may know it.
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You say, "God stores up their iniquity for their children.' Let it be paid back to them, so that they may know it.
20 Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
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Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what do they care for their houses after them, when the number of their months is cut off?
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For what do they care for their household after them, when the number of their months is cut off?
22 Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high?
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Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those that are on high?
23 One dies in his full vigor, being wholly at ease and secure,
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One dies in full prosperity, being wholly at ease and secure,
24 his pails full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist.
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his loins full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist.
25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of prosperity.
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Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of good.
26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.
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They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.
27 “Behold, I know your thoughts and your schemes to wrong me.
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"Oh, I know your thoughts, and your schemes to wrong me.
28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived? ’
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For you say, "Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'
29 Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony
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Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony,
30 that the evil man is spared in the day of calamity, that he is rescued in the day of wrath?
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that the wicked are spared in the day of calamity, and are rescued in the day of wrath?
31 Who declares his way to his face, and who repays him for what he has done?
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Who declares their way to their face, and who repays them for what they have done?
32 When he is carried to the grave, watch is kept over his tomb.
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When they are carried to the grave, a watch is kept over their tomb.
33 The clods of the valley are sweet to him; all mankind follows after him, and those who go before him are innumerable.
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The clods of the valley are sweet to them; everyone will follow after, and those who went before are innumerable.
34 How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood. ”
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How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood."
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.