_1. But Job answered and said, _2. Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. _3. Suffer me that I may speak; and after that 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? _5. Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth. _6. Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. _7. Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? _8. Their seed is established in their sight with them, 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 take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. _13. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. _14. Therefore 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 profit should we have, if we pray unto him? _16. Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from 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. _18. They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. _19. God layeth up 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 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? _22. Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high. _23. One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet. _24. His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. _25. And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. _26. They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. _27. Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. _28. For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked? _29. Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, _30. That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought 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 shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the 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. _34. How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?