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1 But Job answered and said, |
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2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. |
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3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. |
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4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled? |
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5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth. |
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6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. |
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7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? |
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8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. |
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9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. |
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10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. |
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11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. |
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12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. |
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13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. |
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14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. |
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15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? |
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16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me. |
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17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. |
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18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. |
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19 God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. |
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20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. |
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21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? |
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22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high. |
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23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet. |
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24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. |
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25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. |
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26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. |
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27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. |
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28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked? |
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29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, |
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30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. |
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31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done? |
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32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. |
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33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him. |
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34 How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood? |
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