Job 15:17–35

¹⁷“Listen to me. I’ll explain things to you.

Let me tell you what I’ve seen.

¹⁸I’ll tell you what those who are wise have said.

They don’t hide anything they’ve received

from their people of long ago.

¹⁹The land was given only to those people.

Their wisdom didn’t come from outsiders.

And here’s what those who are wise have said.

²⁰Sinful people always suffer pain.

Mean people suffer all their lives.

²¹Terrifying sounds fill their ears.

When everything seems to be going well,

robbers attack them.

²²They lose all hope of escaping the darkness of death.

They will certainly be killed with swords.

²³They wander around. They are like food for vultures.

They know that the day they will die is near.

²⁴Suffering and pain terrify them.

Their troubles overpower them,

like a king ready to attack his enemies.

²⁵They shake their fists at God.

They brag about themselves and oppose the Mighty One.

²⁶They boldly charge against him

with their thick, strong shields.

²⁷“Their faces are very fat.

Their stomachs hang out.

²⁸They’ll live in towns that have been destroyed.

They’ll live in houses where no one else lives.

The houses will crumble to pieces.

²⁹They won’t be rich anymore. Their wealth won’t last.

Their property will no longer spread out over the land.

³⁰They won’t escape the darkness of death.

A flame will dry up everything they have.

The breath of God will blow them away.

³¹Don’t let them fool themselves

by trusting in what is worthless.

They won’t get anything out of it.

³²Even before they die, they’ll be paid back in full.

No matter what they do, it won’t succeed.

³³They’ll be like vines

that are stripped of their unripe grapes.

They’ll be like olive trees

that drop their flowers.

³⁴People who are ungodly won’t have any children.

Fire will burn up the tents of people who accept money

from those who want special favors.

³⁵Instead of having children,

ungodly people create suffering.

All they produce is evil.

They are full of lies.”