1But Iob answered, and sayd,2Heare diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.3Suffer me that I may speake, and after that I haue spoken, mocke on.4As for mee, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?5Marke mee, and be astonished, and lay your hand vpon your mouth.6Euen when I remember, I am afraid, and trembling taketh holde on my flesh.7Wherefore doe the wicked liue, become old, yea, are mightie in power?8Their seede is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.9Their houses are safe from feare, neither is the rod of God vpon them.10Their bull gendreth and faileth not, their cow calueth, and casteth not her calfe.11They send foorth their little ones like a flocke, and their children dance.12They take the timbrell and harpe, and reioyce at the sound of the organe.13They spend their daies in wealth, and in a moment goe downe to the graue.14Therefore they say vnto God, Depart from vs: for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes.15What is the Almightie, that wee should serue him? and what profite should we haue, if we pray vnto him?16Loe, their good is not in their hand, the counsell of the wicked is farre from me.17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out? and how oft commeth their destruction vpon them? God distributeth sorrowes in his anger.18They are as stubble before the winde, and as chaffe that the storme carieth away.19God layeth vp his iniquitie for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.20His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drinke of the wrath of the Almightie.21For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his moneths is cut off in the middest?22Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he iudgeth those that are high.23One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.24His breasts are full of milke, and his bones are moistened with marrow.25And another dieth in the bitternesse of his soule, and neuer eateth with pleasure.26They shall lie downe alike in the dust, and the wormes shall couer them.27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the deuices which yee wrongfully imagine against me.28For ye say, where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?29Haue ye not asked them that goe by the way? and doe ye not know their tokens?30That the wicked is reserued to the day of destruction; they shall bee brought foorth to the day of wrath.31Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?32Yet shall hee be brought to the graue, & shall remaine in the tombe.33The cloudes of the valley shalbe sweete vnto him, and euery man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.34How then comfort ye me in vaine, seeing in your answeres there remaineth falshood?
