1 Maar Job het geantwoord en gesê:
2 Luister goed na my rede, en laat dit die vertroostinge wees wat julle aanbied.
3 Verdra my, dat ek ook kan spreek; en nadat ek gespreek het, kan jy spot.
4 Wat my aangaan, geld my geklaag dan 'n mens? Of waarom sou ek nie ongeduldig word nie?
5 Kyk my aan, en wees verskrik; en lê die hand op die mond.
6 Ja, as ek daaraan dink, is ek glad verslae, en verskrikking gryp my vlees aan.
7 Waarom bly die goddelose lewe, word hulle oud, ja, neem hulle toe in krag?
8 Hulle nakomelinge bestaan voor hulle in hul gemeenskap, en hul spruite voor hulle oë.
9 Hul huise het vrede, sonder skrik; en die roede van God is op hulle nie.
10 Sy stier bespring en mis nie; sy koei kalf en het geen misdrag nie.
11 Hulle laat hul jong seuns loop soos 'n trop kleinvee, en hul kinders spring rond.
12 Hulle sing by die tamboeryn en siter en is bly by die klank van die fluit.
13 In voorspoed slyt hulle hul dae, en in 'n oomblik sink hulle in die doderyk af.
14 Tog het hulle tot God gesê: Bly ver van ons af; en: In die kennis van u weë het ons geen behae nie.
15 Wat is die Almagtige dat ons Hom sou dien? En wat baat dit ons dat ons biddend by Hom aandring?
17 Hoe selde gaan die lamp van die goddelose dood en oorval hul ondergang hulle! Deel Hy smarte uit in sy toorn,
18 word hulle soos strooi voor die wind, en soos kaf wat die stormwind wegvoer?
19 Julle sê: God spaar sy onheil vir sy kinders op. Ek sê: Hy moes dit aan homself vergeld, dat hy kan voel!
20 Sy eie oë moes sy ongeluk sien, en s,lf moes hy drink van die grimmigheid van die Almagtige.
21 Want wat gee hy om sy huis n hom as die getal van sy maande afgesny is?
22 Wil iemand aan God kennis leer, Hom wat die hemelse wesens oordeel?
23 Die een sterwe in volkome geluk, heeltemal gerus en tevrede.
24 Sy emmers is vol melk, en die murg van sy gebeente word deur en deur bevogtig.
25 Die ander daarenteen sterwe met bitterheid van siel sonder dat hy van die goeie geniet het.
26 Saam lê hulle in die stof, en die wurms oordek hulle.
27 Kyk, ek ken julle gedagtes en die slim planne waarmee julle gewelddadig teen my optree.
28 As julle sê: Waar is die huis van die tiran, en waar die woontent van die goddelose --
29 het julle dan nie navraag gedoen by die reisigers nie hulle bewyse kan julle tog nie loën nie!:
30 dat die kwaaddoeners gespaar word op die dag van ondergang, dat hulle weggelei word op die dag van grimmigheid?
31 Wie gee hom openlik sy gedrag te kenne; en het hy gehandel -- wie sal hom dit vergeld?
32 Dan word hy na die graf gebring, en hulle sorg vir sy grafheuwel.
33 Sag lê op hom die kluite van die dal; en agter hom trek al die mense aan soos daar ontelbares voor hom gewees het.
34 Hoe troos julle my dan op so 'n nietige manier? En julle antwoorde -- net troubreuk bly oor!
1 Then Job made answer and said,
2 Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.
3 Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.
4 As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?
5 Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.
6 At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.
7 Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
8 Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.
10 Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
11 They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,
12 They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
13 Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld.
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 Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?
16 Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)
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 frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
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 his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
21 For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
22 Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
23 One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:
24 His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
25 And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
26 Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
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 ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
29 Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?
30 How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?
31 Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?
32 He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
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 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?