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17 “I will show you, listen to me;
and what I have seen, I will tell[a]
18 what wise men have told,
and they have not hidden that which is from their ancestors,
19 to whom alone[b] the land was given,
and no stranger passed through their midst.
20 “All of the wicked one’s days he is writhing,
even[c] through the number of years that are laid up for the tyrant.
21 Sounds of terror are in his ears;
in prosperity the destroyer will come against him.
22 He cannot trust that he will return[d] from darkness,
and he himself[e] is destined for the sword.
23 “He is wandering for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’
He knows that a day of darkness is ready at hand.[f]
24 Anguish and distress terrify him;
they[g] overpower him like a king ready for the battle.
25 Because he stretched out his hand against God,
and he was arrogant to Shaddai;
26 he stubbornly[h] runs against him
with his thick-bossed shield.[i]
27 “Because he has covered his face with his fat
and has gathered fat upon his loins,
28 he will dwell[j] in desolate cities,
in houses that they should not inhabit,
which are destined for rubble.
29 He will not become rich, and his wealth will not endure,
and their possessions will not stretch across the earth.[k]
30 “He will not escape from darkness;
a flame will dry up his new shoot,
and by the wind of his mouth he shall be removed.
31 Let him not trust in emptiness—he will be deceiving himself—
for worthlessness will be his recompense.
32 It will be paid in full before his time,[l]
and his branch will not flourish.
33 “He will shake off his unripe fruit like the vine,
and he will cast off his blossom like the olive tree;
34 for the company of the godless is barren,
and fire consumes the tents of those who accept bribes.
35 They conceive trouble and bring forth mischief,
and their womb prepares deceit.”

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Footnotes

  1. Job 15:17 Literally “and I will tell”
  2. Job 15:19 Literally “to them to alone them”
  3. Job 15:20 Hebrew “and”
  4. Job 15:22 Literally “He cannot trust to return,” or “He is not certain to return,” or “He cannot be sure to return” (compare NJPS)
  5. Job 15:22 Emphatic personal pronoun
  6. Job 15:23 Hebrew “at his hand”; the meaning seems to be, “his ruin is certain”
  7. Job 15:24 Hebrew “it”
  8. Job 15:26 Literally “with neck”
  9. Job 15:26 Literally “with the thickness of the boss of his shield”
  10. Job 15:28 Hebrew “and he will dwell”
  11. Job 15:29 See HCSB, ESV; or “will not reach to the earth”; perhaps “his possessions will not go to the underworld”
  12. Job 15:32 Literally “in not his day,” or “without his day”

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

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

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