Job 15:12-16:11

New International Version

¹² Why has your heart^(A) carried you away,
    and why do your eyes flash,
¹³ so that you vent your rage^(B) against God
    and pour out such words^(C) from your mouth?^(D)

¹⁴ “What are mortals, that they could be pure,
    or those born of woman,^(E) that they could be righteous?^(F)
15 If God places no trust in his holy ones,^(G)
    if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,^(H)
16 how much less mortals, who are vile and corrupt,^(I)
    who drink up evil^(J) like water!^(K)

¹⁷ “Listen to me and I will explain to you;
    let me tell you what I have seen,^(L)
18 what the wise have declared,
    hiding nothing received from their ancestors^(M)
19 (to whom alone the land^(N) was given
    when no foreigners moved among them):
²⁰ All his days the wicked man suffers torment,^(O)
    the ruthless man through all the years stored up for him.^(P)
21 Terrifying sounds fill his ears;^(Q)
    when all seems well, marauders attack him.^(R)
22 He despairs of escaping the realm of darkness;^(S)
    he is marked for the sword.^(T)
23 He wanders about^(U) for food like a vulture;^(V)
    he knows the day of darkness^(W) is at hand.^(X)
24 Distress and anguish^(Y) fill him with terror;^(Z)
    troubles overwhelm him, like a king^(AA) poised to attack,
²⁵ because he shakes his fist^(AB) at God
    and vaunts himself against the Almighty,^(AC)
26 defiantly charging against him
    with a thick, strong shield.^(AD)

²⁷ “Though his face is covered with fat
    and his waist bulges with flesh,^(AE)
28 he will inhabit ruined towns
    and houses where no one lives,^(AF)
    houses crumbling to rubble.^(AG)
29 He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure,^(AH)
    nor will his possessions spread over the land.^(AI)
30 He will not escape the darkness;^(AJ)
    a flame^(AK) will wither his shoots,^(AL)
    and the breath of God’s mouth^(AM) will carry him away.^(AN)
31 Let him not deceive^(AO) himself by trusting what is worthless,^(AP)
    for he will get nothing in return.^(AQ)
32 Before his time^(AR) he will wither,^(AS)
    and his branches will not flourish.^(AT)
33 He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes,^(AU)
    like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.^(AV)
34 For the company of the godless^(AW) will be barren,
    and fire will consume^(AX) the tents of those who love bribes.^(AY)
35 They conceive trouble^(AZ) and give birth to evil;^(BA)
    their womb fashions deceit.”

² “I have heard many things like these;
    you are miserable comforters,^(BB) all of you!^(BC)
3 Will your long-winded speeches never end?^(BD)
    What ails you that you keep on arguing?^(BE)
4 I also could speak like you,
    if you were in my place;
I could make fine speeches against you
    and shake my head^(BF) at you.
⁵ But my mouth would encourage you;
    comfort^(BG) from my lips would bring you relief.^(BH)

⁶ “Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
    and if I refrain, it does not go away.^(BI)
7 Surely, God, you have worn me out;^(BJ)
    you have devastated my entire household.^(BK)
8 You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness;
    my gauntness^(BL) rises up and testifies against me.^(BM)
9 God assails me and tears^(BN) me in his anger^(BO)
    and gnashes his teeth at me;^(BP)
    my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.^(BQ)
10 People open their mouths^(BR) to jeer at me;^(BS)
    they strike my cheek^(BT) in scorn
    and unite together against me.^(BU)
11 God has turned me over to the ungodly
    and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.^(BV)