Job 21:2–9

2 “Listen carefully to my words;

let this be the consolation you give me.

3 Bear with me while I speak,

and after I have spoken, mock on.

4 “Is my complaint directed to a human being?

Why should I not be impatient?

5 Look at me and be appalled;

clap your hand over your mouth.

6 When I think about this, I am terrified;

trembling seizes my body.

7 Why do the wicked live on,

growing old and increasing in power?

8 They see their children established around them,

their offspring before their eyes.

9 Their homes are safe and free from fear;

the rod of God is not on them.

2 “Keep listening to my words,

and let this be your comfort.

3 Bear with me, and I will speak,

and after I have spoken, mock on.

4 As for me, is my complaint against man?

Why should I not be impatient?

5 Look at me and be appalled,

and lay your hand over your mouth.

6 When I remember, I am dismayed,

and shuddering seizes my flesh.

7 Why do the wicked live,

reach old age, and grow mighty in power?

8 Their offspring are established in their presence,

and their descendants before their eyes.

9 Their houses are safe from fear,

and no rod of God is upon them.

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.

2 “Listen closely to what I am saying.

That’s one consolation you can give me.

3 Bear with me, and let me speak.

After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.

4 “My complaint is with God, not with people.

I have good reason to be so impatient.

5 Look at me and be stunned.

Put your hand over your mouth in shock.

6 When I think about what I am saying, I shudder.

My body trembles.

7 “Why do the wicked prosper,

growing old and powerful?

8 They live to see their children grow up and settle down,

and they enjoy their grandchildren.

9 Their homes are safe from every fear,

and God does not punish them.

2 “Listen carefully to my speech,

And let this be your consolation.

3 Bear with me that I may speak,

And after I have spoken, keep mocking.

4 “As for me, is my complaint against man?

And if it were, why should I not be impatient?

5 Look at me and be astonished;

Put your hand over your mouth.

6 Even when I remember I am terrified,

And trembling takes hold of my flesh.

7 Why do the wicked live and become old,

Yes, become mighty in power?

8 Their descendants are established with them in their sight,

And their offspring before their eyes.

9 Their houses are safe from fear,

Neither is the rod of God upon them.

2 “Listen carefully to my words,

and let this be the way you comfort me.

3 Be patient while I speak.

After I have finished, you may continue to make fun of me.

4 “My complaint is not just against people;

I have reason to be impatient.

5 Look at me and be shocked;

put your hand over your mouth in shock.

6 When I think about this, I am terribly afraid

and my body shakes.

7 Why do evil people live a long time?

They grow old and become more powerful.

8 They see their children around them;

they watch them grow up.

9 Their homes are safe and without fear;

God does not punish them.

2 Hear diligently my speech;

And let this be your consolations.

3 Suffer me, and I also will speak;

And after that I have spoken, mock on.

4 As for me, is my complaint to man?

And why should I not be impatient?

5 Mark me, and be astonished,

And lay your hand upon your mouth.

6 Even when I remember I am troubled,

And horror taketh hold on my flesh.

7 Wherefore do the wicked live,

Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

8 Their seed is established with them in their sight,

And their offspring before their eyes.

9 Their houses are safe from fear,

Neither is the rod of God upon them.

2 Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations. 3 Suffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on! 4 As for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient? 5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay the hand upon the mouth. 6 Even when I think thereon, I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.

7 Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power? 8 Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of †God upon them.

2 “Listen carefully to my words, 

and let that be the comfort you offer me. 

3 Bear with me while I speak. 

Then after I’ve spoken, you may go on mocking. 

4 Am I complaining about a person? 

Why shouldn’t I be impatient? 

5 Look at me, and be shocked, 

and put ⸤your⸥ hand over ⸤your⸥ mouth. 

6 When I remember it, I’m terrified, 

and shuddering seizes my body. 

7 “Why do the wicked go on living, grow old, 

and even become more powerful? 

8 They see their children firmly established with them, 

and they get to see their descendants. 

9 Their homes are free from fear, 

and God doesn’t use his rod on them. 

2 Pay close attention to my words;

let this be the consolation you offer.

3 Bear with me while I speak;

then after I have spoken, you may continue mocking.

4 As for me, is my complaint against a man?

Then why shouldn’t I be impatient?

5 Look at me and shudder;

put your hand over your mouth.

6 When I think about it, I am terrified

and my body trembles in horror.

7 Why do the wicked continue to live,

growing old and becoming powerful?

8 Their children are established while they are still alive,

and their descendants, before their eyes.

9 Their homes are secure and free of fear;

no rod from God strikes them.

2 “Listen carefully to my words,

and let this be your consolation.

3 Bear with me, and I will speak;

then after I have spoken, mock on.

4 As for me, is my complaint addressed to mortals?

Why should I not be impatient?

5 Look at me and be appalled,

and lay your hand upon your mouth.

6 When I think of it I am dismayed,

and shuddering seizes my flesh.

7 Why do the wicked live on,

reach old age, and grow mighty in power?

8 Their children are established in their presence

and their offspring before their eyes.

9 Their houses are safe from fear,

and no rod of God is upon them.

2 “Listen carefully to my words,

and let this be your consolation.

3 Bear with me, and I myself will speak;

then after my speaking you can mock.

4 As for me, is my complaint for human beings?

And if so, why cannot I be impatient?

5 Turn to me and be appalled,

and place your hand on your mouth.

6 And when I think of it, I am horrified,

and shuddering seizes my flesh.

7 “Why do the wicked live,

grow old, even grow mighty in power?

8 With them their offspring are established before them,

and their descendants before their eyes.

9 Their houses are safe without fear,

and the rod of God is not upon them.

2 “Listen carefully to what I’m saying.

Let that be the comfort you people give me.

3 Put up with me while I speak.

After I’ve spoken, you can make fun of me!

4 “I’m not arguing with mere human beings.

So why shouldn’t I be angry and uneasy?

5 Look at me and be amazed.

Put your hand over your mouth and stop talking!

6 When I think about these things, I’m terrified.

My whole body trembles.

7 Why do sinful people keep on living?

The older they grow, the richer they get.

8 They see their children grow up around them.

They watch their family increase in number.

9 Their homes are safe.

They don’t have to be afraid.

God isn’t punishing them.