Job 15:17-25

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.