The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2000.
Job Asserts the Prosperity of the Wicked |
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? |
|
|