New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Then Job answered:
1
Then Job made answer and said,
2 "Listen carefully to my words, and let this be your consolation.
2
Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.
3 Bear with me, and I will speak; then after I have spoken, mock on.
3
Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.
4 As for me, is my complaint addressed to mortals? Why should I not be impatient?
4
As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?
5 Look at me, and be appalled, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
5
Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.
6 When I think of it I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.
6
At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.
7 Why do the wicked live on, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?
7
Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
8 Their children are established in their presence, and their offspring before their eyes.
8
Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.
9
Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.
10 Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and never miscarries.
10
Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
11 They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children dance around.
11
They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,
12 They sing to the tambourine and the lyre, and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.
12
They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.
13
Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld.
14 They say to God, "Leave us alone! We do not desire to know your ways.
14
Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?'
15
What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?
16 Is not their prosperity indeed their own achievement? The plans of the wicked are repugnant to me.
16
Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)
17 "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?
17
How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords?
18 How often are they like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?
18
How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
19 You say, "God stores up their iniquity for their children.' Let it be paid back to them, so that they may know it.
19
You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it!
20 Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
20
Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
21 For what do they care for their household after them, when the number of their months is cut off?
21
For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
22 Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those that are on high?
22
Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
23 One dies in full prosperity, being wholly at ease and secure,
23
One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:
24 his loins full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist.
24
His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of good.
25
And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.
26
Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
27 "Oh, I know your thoughts, and your schemes to wrong me.
27
See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;
28 For you say, "Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'
28
For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
29 Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony,
29
Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?
30 that the wicked are spared in the day of calamity, and are rescued in the day of wrath?
30
How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?
31 Who declares their way to their face, and who repays them for what they have done?
31
Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?
32 When they are carried to the grave, a watch is kept over their tomb.
32
He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
33 The clods of the valley are sweet to them; everyone will follow after, and those who went before are innumerable.
33
The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.
34 How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood."
34
Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit?
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.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.