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, {cf15I is} my complaint to man? and if {cf15I it were so}, why should not my spirit be troubled?
5. Mark me, and be astonished, and lay {cf15I your} hand upon {cf15I 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 {cf15I are} safe from fear, neither {cf15I 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 {cf15I is} the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
16. Lo, their good {cf15I 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 {cf15I how oft} cometh their destruction upon them! {cf15I 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 {cf15I it}.
20. His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21. For what pleasure {cf15I hath} he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
22. Shall {cf15I 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 {cf15I which} ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28. For ye say, Where {cf15I is} the house of the prince? and where {cf15I 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 {cf15I 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 {cf15I there are} innumerable before him.
34. How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?