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“Listen closely to what I am saying.
That’s one consolation you can give me.
That’s one consolation you can give me.
“Listen carefully to my words;
let this be the consolation you give me.
let this be the consolation you give me.
Bear with me, and let me speak.
After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.
After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.
Bear with me while I speak,
and after I have spoken, mock on.
and after I have spoken, mock on.
“My complaint is with God, not with people.
I have good reason to be so impatient.
I have good reason to be so impatient.
“Is my complaint directed to a human being?
Why should I not be impatient?
Why should I not be impatient?
Look at me and be stunned.
Put your hand over your mouth in shock.
Put your hand over your mouth in shock.
Look at me and be appalled;
clap your hand over your mouth.
clap your hand over your mouth.
When I think about what I am saying, I shudder.
My body trembles.
My body trembles.
When I think about this, I am terrified;
trembling seizes my body.
trembling seizes my body.
“Why do the wicked prosper,
growing old and powerful?
growing old and powerful?
Why do the wicked live on,
growing old and increasing in power?
growing old and increasing in power?
They live to see their children grow up and settle down,
and they enjoy their grandchildren.
and they enjoy their grandchildren.
They see their children established around them,
their offspring before their eyes.
their offspring before their eyes.
Their homes are safe from every fear,
and God does not punish them.
and God does not punish them.
Their homes are safe and free from fear;
the rod of God is not on them.
the rod of God is not on them.
Their bulls never fail to breed.
Their cows bear calves and never miscarry.
Their cows bear calves and never miscarry.
Their bulls never fail to breed;
their cows calve and do not miscarry.
their cows calve and do not miscarry.
They let their children frisk about like lambs.
Their little ones skip and dance.
Their little ones skip and dance.
They send forth their children as a flock;
their little ones dance about.
their little ones dance about.
They sing with tambourine and harp.
They celebrate to the sound of the flute.
They celebrate to the sound of the flute.
They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre;
they make merry to the sound of the pipe.
they make merry to the sound of the pipe.
And yet they say to God, ‘Go away.
We want no part of you and your ways.
We want no part of you and your ways.
Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!
We have no desire to know your ways.
We have no desire to know your ways.
Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him?
What good will it do us to pray?’
What good will it do us to pray?’
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
What would we gain by praying to him?’
What would we gain by praying to him?’
(They think their prosperity is of their own doing,
but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)
but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)
But their prosperity is not in their own hands,
so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.
so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.
“Yet the light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished.
Do they ever have trouble?
Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger?
Do they ever have trouble?
Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger?
“Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out?
How often does calamity come upon them,
the fate God allots in his anger?
How often does calamity come upon them,
the fate God allots in his anger?
Are they driven before the wind like straw?
Are they carried away by the storm like chaff?
Not at all!
Are they carried away by the storm like chaff?
Not at all!
How often are they like straw before the wind,
like chaff swept away by a gale?
like chaff swept away by a gale?
“‘Well,’ you say, ‘at least God will punish their children!’
But I say he should punish the ones who sin,
so that they understand his judgment.
But I say he should punish the ones who sin,
so that they understand his judgment.
It is said, ‘God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.’
Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it!
Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it!
Let them see their destruction with their own eyes.
Let them drink deeply of the anger of the Almighty.
Let them drink deeply of the anger of the Almighty.
Let their own eyes see their destruction;
let them drink the cup of the wrath of the Almighty.
let them drink the cup of the wrath of the Almighty.
For they will not care what happens to their family
after they are dead.
after they are dead.
For what do they care about the families they leave behind
when their allotted months come to an end?
when their allotted months come to an end?
“But who can teach a lesson to God,
since he judges even the most powerful?
since he judges even the most powerful?
“Can anyone teach knowledge to God,
since he judges even the highest?
since he judges even the highest?
One person dies in prosperity,
completely comfortable and secure,
completely comfortable and secure,
One person dies in full vigor,
completely secure and at ease,
completely secure and at ease,
the picture of good health,
vigorous and fit.
vigorous and fit.
Another person dies in bitter poverty,
never having tasted the good life.
never having tasted the good life.
Another dies in bitterness of soul,
never having enjoyed anything good.
never having enjoyed anything good.
But both are buried in the same dust,
both eaten by the same maggots.
both eaten by the same maggots.
Side by side they lie in the dust,
and worms cover them both.
and worms cover them both.
“Look, I know what you’re thinking.
I know the schemes you plot against me.
I know the schemes you plot against me.
“I know full well what you are thinking,
the schemes by which you would wrong me.
the schemes by which you would wrong me.
You will tell me of rich and wicked people
whose houses have vanished because of their sins.
whose houses have vanished because of their sins.
You say, ‘Where now is the house of the great,
the tents where the wicked lived?’
the tents where the wicked lived?’
But ask those who have been around,
and they will tell you the truth.
and they will tell you the truth.
Have you never questioned those who travel?
Have you paid no regard to their accounts —
Have you paid no regard to their accounts —
Evil people are spared in times of calamity
and are allowed to escape disaster.
and are allowed to escape disaster.
No one criticizes them openly
or pays them back for what they have done.
or pays them back for what they have done.
Who denounces their conduct to their face?
Who repays them for what they have done?
Who repays them for what they have done?
When they are carried to the grave,
an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.
an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.
They are carried to the grave,
and watch is kept over their tombs.
and watch is kept over their tombs.
A great funeral procession goes to the cemetery.
Many pay their respects as the body is laid to rest,
and the earth gives sweet repose.
Many pay their respects as the body is laid to rest,
and the earth gives sweet repose.