1 And Job answered and said,2 Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations.3 Suffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on!4 As for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient?5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay the hand upon the mouth.6 Even when I think {thereon}, I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.7 Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power?8 Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of +God upon them.10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.12 They shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment go down to Sheol.14 And they say unto *God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!15 What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?16 Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked be far from me!17 How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and cometh their calamity upon them? Doth he distribute sorrows {to them} in his anger?18 Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?19 +God layeth up {the punishment of} his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know {it}:20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the fury of the Almighty.21 For what pleasure should he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?22 Can any teach *God knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;24 His sides are full of fat, and the marrow of his bones is moistened;25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good:26 Together they lie down in the dust, and the worms cover them.27 Lo, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me.28 For ye say, Where is the house of the noble? and where the tent of the dwellings of the wicked?29 Have ye not asked the wayfarers? and do ye not regard their tokens:30 That the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to the day of wrath.31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?32 Yet is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb.33 The clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable before him.34 How then comfort ye me in vain? Your answers remain perfidious.

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!