1Then Job replied,
2“Listen to what I say, all three of you;
3Be patient with me, and allow me to speak.
4“It is certainly not [RHQ] people against whom I am complaining, but God
5Look at me! Does what you see not cause you to be appalled
6When I think about what has happened to me,
7“But let me ask this: ‘Why do wicked people continue to live,
8They have their children around them,
9Wicked people live in their own houses without being afraid,
10Their bulls always mate with the cows successfully,
11Wicked people send their young children outside to play,
12Some children dance and sing, while others shake tambourines and play lyres,
13Wicked people enjoy having good things all the time that they are alive,
14While they are alive, they say to God, ‘Do not bother us;
15Why do you, Almighty God, think that we should serve you?
16Think about it: Wicked people think that it is because of what they have done that they have become prosperous,
17◄“How often does it happen that wicked people die [MET] before they are old?/Very seldom do wicked people die [MET] before they are old.► [RHQ]
18He does not blow them away like wind blows away straw;
19You say, ‘When people have committed sins,
20I hope/wish that wicked people will experience themselves being destroyed,
21After wicked people are dead,
22“Since God judges everyone, even those that are in heaven,
23Some people die while they are very healthy,
24Their bodies are fat;
25Other people die being very miserable;
26But both rich and poor people die and are buried,
27“Listen, I know what you three are thinking.
28You say, ‘What happened to the tents in which wicked people were living?
29But have you never inquired of people who travel much?
30that wicked people usually do not suffer at the time when there are great disasters;
31There is no one [RHQ] who accuses wicked people,
32The corpses of wicked people are carried to their graves,
33A huge number [HYP] of people go to the grave site.
34“So how can you console me by talking nonsense?