Job 15:17-35

New International Reader's Version

¹⁷ “Listen to me. I’ll explain things to you.
    Let me tell you what I’ve seen.
¹⁸ I’ll tell you what those who are wise have said.
    They don’t hide anything they’ve received
    from their people of long ago.
¹⁹ The land was given only to those people.
    Their wisdom didn’t come from outsiders.
    And here’s what those who are wise have said.
²⁰ Sinful people always suffer pain.
    Mean people suffer all their lives.
²¹ Terrifying sounds fill their ears.
    When everything seems to be going well,
    robbers attack them.
²² They lose all hope of escaping the darkness of death.
    They will certainly be killed by swords.
²³ Like vultures, they look around for food.
    They know that the day they will die is near.
²⁴ Suffering and pain terrify them.
    Their troubles overpower them,
    like a king ready to attack his enemies.
²⁵ They shake their fists at God.
    They brag about themselves and oppose the Mighty One.
²⁶ They boldly charge against him
    with their thick, strong shields.

²⁷ “Their faces are very fat.
    Their stomachs hang out.
²⁸ They’ll live in towns that have been destroyed.
    They’ll live in houses where no one else lives.
    The houses will crumble to pieces.
²⁹ They won’t be rich anymore. Their wealth won’t last.
    Their property will no longer spread out over the land.
³⁰ They won’t escape the darkness of death.
    A flame will dry up everything they have.
    The breath of God will blow them away.
³¹ Don’t let them fool themselves
    by trusting in what is worthless.
    They won’t get anything out of it.
³² Even before they die, they will dry up.
    No matter what they do, it won’t succeed.
³³ They’ll be like vines
    that are stripped of their unripe grapes.
They’ll be like olive trees
    that drop their flowers.
³⁴ People who are ungodly won’t have any children.
    Fire will burn up the tents of people who accept money
    from those who want special favors.
³⁵ Instead of having children,
    ungodly people create suffering.
All they produce is evil.
    They are full of lies.”