| 1 ¶ But Job answered and said,
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| 2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
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| 3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
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| 4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled1?
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| 5 Mark2 me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
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| 6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
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| 7 ¶ Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
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| 8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
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| 9 Their houses are safe3 from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
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| 10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
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| 11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
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| 12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
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| 13 They spend their days in wealth,4 and in a moment go down to the grave.
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| 14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
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| 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
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| 16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
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| 17 ¶ How oft is the candle5 of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
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| 18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth6 away.
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| 19 God layeth up his iniquity7 for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.
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| 20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
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| 21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
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| 22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
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| 23 One dieth in his8 full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
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| 24 His breasts9 are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
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| 25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
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| 26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
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| 27 ¶ Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
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| 28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling10 places of the wicked?
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| 29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,
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| 30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.11
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| 31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
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| 32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave,12 and shall remain13 in the tomb.
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| 33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
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| 34 How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood14?
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