God Does Not Punish the Wicked
Then Job answered and said,
2 “Listen carefully to my speech,
And let this be your way of consolation.
3 Bear with me that I may speak;
Then after I have spoken, you may amock.
4 As for me, is amy musing to man?
And bwhy should I not be impatient?
5 Look at me, and be appalled,
And aput your hand over your mouth.
6 Even when I remember, I am dismayed,
And ahorror seizes my flesh.
7 Why ado the wicked still live,
Continue on, also become very bpowerful?
8 Their aseed is established with them in their presence,
And their offspring before their eyes,
9 Their houses aare safe from dread,
And the rod of God is not on them.
10 His ox mates and does not fail;
His cow calves and does not miscarry.
11 They send forth their little ones like the flock,
And their children skip about.
12 They lift up the tambourine and harp
And are glad at the sound of the pipe.
13 They aspend their days in prosperity,
And suddenly they go down to Sheol.
14 They say to God, ‘aDepart from us!
We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him,
And awhat would we profit if we entreat Him?’
16 Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand;
The acounsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 “How often is athe lamp of the wicked put out,
Or does their bdisaster fall on them?
Does God apportion destruction in His anger?
18 Are they as astraw before the wind,
And like bchaff which the storm steals away?
19 You say, ‘aGod stores away a man’s wickedness for his sons.’
Let God repay him so that he may know it.
20 Let his aown eyes see his decay,
And let him bdrink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what desire does he have for his household after him,
When the number of his months is cut off?
22 Can anyone ateach God knowledge,
In that He bjudges those on high?
23 One adies in his full strength,
Being wholly carefree and at ease;
24 His sides are filled out with fat,
And the amarrow of his bones is moist,
25 But another dies with a bitter soul,
Never even eats anything good.
26 Together they alie down in the dust,
And bworms cover them.
27 “Behold, I know your thoughts,
And the plans by which you do violence against me.
28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of athe nobleman,
And where is the btent, the dwelling places of the wicked?’
29 Have you not asked those who pass by along the way,
And do you not recognize their witness?
30 That the awicked is reserved for the day of disaster;
They will be led forth at bthe day of fury.
31 Who will declare to his face about his actions,
And who will repay him for what he has done?
32 While he is led forth to the grave,
Men will keep watch over his tomb.
33 The aclods of the valley will gently cover him;
Moreover, ball men will draw up after him,
While countless ones go before him.
34 How then will you vainly acomfort me,
Indeed when your answers remain full of falsehood?”