King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 But Job answered and said,
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Then Job answered:
2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
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"Listen carefully to my words, and let this be your consolation.
3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that 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 to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
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As for me, is my complaint addressed to mortals? Why should I not be impatient?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
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Look at me, and be appalled, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
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When I think of it I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
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Why do the wicked live on, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring 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, neither is the rod of God upon them.
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Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
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Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and never miscarries.
11 They send forth their little ones 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 take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
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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 wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
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They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.
14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy 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 should we have, if we pray unto 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 Lo, their good is not 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 oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows 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 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
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How often are they like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?
19 God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall 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 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall 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 pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
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For what do they care for their household after them, when the number of their months is cut off?
22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
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Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those that are on high?
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
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One dies in full prosperity, being wholly at ease and secure,
24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
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his loins full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist.
25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
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Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of good.
26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall 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 the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
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"Oh, I know your thoughts, and your schemes to wrong me.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
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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 ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,
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Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony,
30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to 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 shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
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Who declares their way to their face, and who repays them for what they have done?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the 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 shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
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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 comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?
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How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood."
The King James Version is in the public domain.
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.