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Then Job answered and said:

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Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.

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Suffer me, that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

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As for me, is my complaint to man? Or why should I not be impatient?

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Turn unto me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

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Even when I remember I am affrighted, and horror hath taketh hold on my flesh.

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Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

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Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

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Their houses are safe, without fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

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Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

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They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

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They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

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They spend their days in prosperity, and peacefully they go down to the grave.

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Yet they said unto God: 'Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways.

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What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?'--

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Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand; the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

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How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? that their calamity cometh upon them? that He distributeth pains in His anger?

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That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm stealeth away?

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'God layeth up his iniquity for his children!' --let Him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.

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Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

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For what pleasure hath he in his house after him? seeing the number of his months is determined.

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Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing it is He that judgeth those that are high.

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One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;

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His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.

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And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted of good.

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They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.

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Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

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For ye say: 'Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?'

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Have ye not asked them that go by the way; and will ye misdeem their tokens,

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That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led forth to the day of wrath?

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But who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?

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For he is borne to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.

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The clods of the valley are sweet unto him, and all men draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.

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How then comfort ye me in vain? And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness?