Job 15:17-35

Lexham English Bible

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.”