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?

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?

III == Job 16:10 ; 17:2

 

 

 

V == Judg 18:19 ; Job 29:9 ; 40:4 ; Ps39:9

 

 

VII == Job 12:6 ; Ps 17:10 , 14 ; 73:3 , 12 ; Jer 12:1 ; Hab 1:16

 

 

IX == Ps 73:5

X == Ex 23:26

 

 

 

 

XIII == Job 36:11

XIV == Job 22:17

 

XV == Ex 5:2 ; Job 34:9 ; 35:3 ; Mal 3:14

XVI == Job 22:18 ; Ps 1:1 ; Prov 1:10

XVII == Job 18:6 ; Luke 12:46

 

XVIII == Ps 1:4 ; 35:5 ; Isa 17:13 ; 29:5 ; Hos 13:3

XIX == Ex 20:5

XX == Ps 75:8 ; Isa 51:17 ; Jer 25:15 ; Rev 14:10 ; 19:15

 

XXII == Isa 40:13 ; 45:9 ; Rom 11:34 ; 1st Cor 2:16

 

 

 

 

XXVI == Job 20:11 ; Eccl 9:2

 

 

XXVIII == Job 20:7

 

 

 

XXX == Prov 16:4 ; 2nd Peter 2:9

XXXI == Gal 2:11

 

 

XXXIII == Heb 9:27

 

 

 

 

1 Then Job said in reply:

2 At least listen to my words, and let that be the consolation you offer.

3 Bear with me while I speak; and after I have spoken, you can mock!

4 Is my complaint toward man? And why should I not be impatient?

5 Look at me and be astonished, put your hands over your mouths.

6 When I think of it, I am dismayed, and horror takes hold on my flesh.

7 Why do the wicked survive, grow old, become mighty in power?

8 Their progeny is secure in their sight; they see before them their kinsfolk and their offspring.

9 Their homes are safe and without fear, nor is the scourge of God upon them.

10 Their bulls gender without fail; their cows calve and do not miscarry.

11 These folk have infants numerous as lambs, and their children dance.

12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, and make merry to the sound of the flute.

13 They live out their days in prosperity, and tranquilly go down to the nether world.

14 Yet they say to God, "Depart from us, for we have no wish to learn your ways!

15 What is the Almighty that we should serve him? And what gain shall we have if we pray to him?"

16 If their happiness is not in their own hands and if the counsel of the wicked is repulsive to God,

17 How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does destruction come upon them, the portion he allots in his anger?

18 Let them be like straw before the wind, and like chaff which the storm snatches away!

19 May God not store up the man's misery for his children; let him requite the man himself so that he feels it,

20 Let his own eyes see the calamity, and the wrath of the Almighty let him drink!

21 For what interest has he in his family after him, when the number of his months is finished?

22 Can anyone teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those on high?

23 One dies in his full vigor, wholly at ease and content;

24 His figure is full and nourished, and his bones are rich in marrow.

25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, having never tasted happiness.

26 Alike they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them both.

27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the arguments you rehearse against me.

28 For you say, "Where is the house of the magnate, and where the dwelling place of the wicked?"

29 Have you not asked the wayfarers and do you not recognize their monuments?

30 Nay, the evil man is spared calamity when it comes;

32 and on the day he is carried to the grave

31 Who will charge him with his conduct to his face, and for what he has done who will repay him?

33 Sweet to him are the clods of the valley, and over him the funeral mound keeps watch, While all the line of mankind follows him, and the countless others who have gone before.

34 How then can you offer me vain comfort, while in your answers perfidy remains?

v 1-3. If Zophar would listen he would know it was better to console than rebuke a sufferer, but after Job finished he could mock on. He is the only one not to talk 3 times.

v 4--6. Job was appalled at his terrible condition, and since his complaint was to God, not them, they should be appalled too.

 

v 7-16. This is a common question. Job reminds them that the wicked do become old. powerful, safe and prosperous while flaunting God. He does not understand why God deals in this way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 17-21. Zophar’s assertion that the wicked are suddenly snuffed out is not born out in fact. Neither is it reasonable that God would punish the man’s children for him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 22-26. Breasts in v 24 may be figurative and in context with the rest of the verse, or “pail” may be an indication of abundance. Health and wealth are no way for judging a persons spirituality. They are trying to teach God how to deal with men rather than see what He does. Wicked or godly may die either old or young and healthy or poorly.

 

 

v 27-33. Job knew that their comments implied his bad health and the destruction of the house of his son. He suggests they ask travelers their independent observation. He is aware the wicked may prosper now and even have an elaborate burial, but await and are reserved for punishment after death, Jude 1:13. Had it not been for his agony he could have better appreciated the resurrection of the believers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 34. The boastful consolations to Job were not only useless, but their explanation of suffering only proved they were unfaithful in their friendship to him.