² “Job, would a wise person answer with a lot of meaningless talk?
    Would they fill their stomach with the hot east wind?
³ Would they argue with useless words?
    Would they give worthless speeches?
⁴ But you even cause others to lose their respect for God.
    You make it hard for them to be faithful to him.
⁵ Your sin makes you say evil things.
    You talk like people who twist the truth.
⁶ Your own mouth judges you, not mine.
    Your own lips witness against you.

⁷ “Are you the first man who was ever born?
    Were you created before the hills?
⁸ Do you listen in when God speaks with his angels?
    Do you think you are the only wise person?
⁹ What do you know that we don’t know?
    What understanding do you have that we don’t have?
¹⁰ People who are old and gray are on our side.
    And they are even older than your parents!
¹¹ Aren’t God’s words of comfort enough for you?
    He speaks them to you gently.
¹² Why have you let your wild ideas carry you away?
    Why do your eyes flash with anger?
¹³ Why do you get so angry with God?
    Why do words like those pour out of your mouth?

¹⁴ “Can human beings really be pure?
    Can those who are born really be right with God?
¹⁵ God doesn’t trust his holy angels.
    Even the heavens aren’t pure in his sight.
¹⁶ So he’ll certainly find fault with human beings.
    After all, they are evil and sinful.
    They drink up evil as if it were water.

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.”