Job 12:4–6

4 “I have become a laughingstock to my friends,

though I called on God and he answered—

a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!

5 Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune

as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.

6 The tents of marauders are undisturbed,

and those who provoke God are secure—

those God has in his hand.

4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour,

Who calleth upon God, and he answereth him:

The just upright man is laughed to scorn.

5 He that is ready to slip with his feet

Is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper,

And they that provoke God are secure;

Into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

4 Yet my friends laugh at me,

for I call on God and expect an answer.

I am a just and blameless man,

yet they laugh at me.

5 People who are at ease mock those in trouble.

They give a push to people who are stumbling.

6 But robbers are left in peace,

and those who provoke God live in safety—

though God keeps them in his power.

4 “I am one mocked by his friends,

Who called on God, and He answered him,

The just and blameless who is ridiculed.

5 A lamp is despised in the thought of one who is at ease;

It is made ready for those whose feet slip.

6 The tents of robbers prosper,

And those who provoke God are secure—

In what God provides by His hand.

4 My friends all laugh at me

when I call on God and expect him to answer me;

they laugh at me even though I am right and innocent!

5 Those who are comfortable don’t care that others have trouble;

they think it right that those people should have troubles.

6 The tents of robbers are not bothered,

and those who make God angry are safe.

They have their god in their pocket.

4 I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbor,

I who called upon God, and he answered:

The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.

5 In the thought of him that is at ease there is contempt for misfortune;

It is ready for them whose foot slippeth.

6 The tents of robbers prosper,

And they that provoke God are secure;

Into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

4 I am to be one that is a derision to his friend, I who call upon †God, and whom he will answer: a derision is the just upright man. 5 He that is ready to stumble with the foot is a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

6 The tents of desolators are in peace, and they that provoke •God are secure; into whose hand †God bringeth.

4 I am a laughingstock to my neighbors. 

I am one who calls on God and expects an answer. 

A man of integrity, a man who is righteous, has become a laughingstock. 

5 “A person who has an easy life has no appreciation for misfortune. 

He thinks it is the fate of those who slip up. 

6 ⸤But⸥ robbers’ tents are prosperous, 

and there is security for those who provoke God, 

for those whose god is their power. 

4 I am a laughingstock to my friends,

by calling on God, who answers me.

The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.

5 The one who is at ease holds calamity in contempt

and thinks it is prepared for those whose feet are slipping.

6 The tents of robbers are safe,

and those who provoke God are secure;

God’s power provides this.

4 I am a laughingstock to my friends;

I, who called upon God and he answered me,

a just and blameless man, I am a laughingstock.

5 Those at ease have contempt for misfortune,

but it is ready for those whose feet are unstable.

6 The tents of robbers are at peace,

and those who provoke God are secure,

who bring their god in their hands.

4 I am a laughingstock to my friends:

‘He calls on God, and he answers him.’

A righteous, blameless man is a laughingstock.

5 Those at ease have contempt for the thought of disaster,

but it is ready for those unstable of foot.

6 The tents of the destroyers are at peace,

and there is security for those who provoke God,

for those whom God brings into his hand.

4 “My friends laugh at me all the time,

even though I called out to God and he answered.

My friends laugh at me,

even though I’m honest and right.

5 People who have an easy life look down on those who have problems.

They think trouble comes only to those whose feet are slipping.

6 Why doesn’t anyone bother the tents of robbers?

Why do those who make God angry remain secure?

They carry the statues of their gods in their hands!

4 “I am a joke to my friends,

The one who called on God and He answered him;

The just and blameless man is a joke.

5 “He who is at ease holds calamity in contempt,

As prepared for those whose feet slip.

6 “The tents of the destroyers prosper,

And those who provoke God are secure,

Whom God brings into their power.