1. Job said:
2. If you want to offer comfort,then listen to me.
3. And when I have finished,you can start your insultsall over again.
4. My complaint is against God;that's why I am impatient.
5. Just looking at me is enoughto make you sick,
6. and the very thought of myselffills me with disgust.
7. Why do evil people live so longand gain such power?
8. Why are they allowed to seetheir children grow up?
9. They have no worries at home,and God never punishes them.
10. Their cattle have lots of calveswithout ever losing one;
11. their children play and dancesafely by themselves.
12. These people sing and celebrateto the sound of tambourines,small harps, and flutes,
13. and they are successful,without a worry,until the day they die.
14. Those who are evil sayto God All-Powerful,“Leave us alone! Don't bother uswith your teachings.
15. What do we gain from prayingand worshipping you?
16. We succeeded all on our own.”And so, I keep away from themand their evil schemes.
17. How often does God become angryand send disaster and darknessto punish sinners?
18. How often does he strike themlike a stormthat scatters straw?
19. You say, “God will punishthose sinners' childrenin place of those sinners.”But I say, “Let him punishthose sinners themselvesuntil they really feel it.
20. Let God All-Powerful force themto drink their own destructionfrom the cup of his anger.
21. Because after they are dead,they won't care what happensto their children.”
22. Who can tell God what to do?He judges powerful rulers.
23-24. Some of us die prosperous,enjoying good health,
25. while others die in poverty,having known only pain.
26. But we all end up dead,beneath a blanket of worms.
27. My friends, I know that youare plotting against me.
28. You ask, “Where is the homeof that important personwho does so much evil?”
29. Everyone, near and far, agrees
30. that those who do wrongnever suffer disaster,when God becomes angry.
31. No one points out their sinor punishes them.
32. Then at their funerals,they are highly praised;
33. the earth welcomes them home,while crowds mourn.
34. But empty, meaningless wordsare the comfort you offer me.