2  ^k“Keep listening to my words,

and let this be your comfort.

3  Bear with me, and I will speak,

and after I have spoken, mock on.

4  As for me, is my ^lcomplaint against man?

Why should I not be impatient?

5  Look at me and be appalled,

and ^mlay your hand over your mouth.

6  When I remember, I am dismayed,

and shuddering seizes my flesh.

7  ⁿWhy do the wicked live,

reach old age, and grow mighty in power?

8  Their offspring are established in their presence,

and their descendants before their eyes.

9  ^oTheir houses are safe from fear,

and no ^prod of God is upon them.

10  Their bull breeds without fail;

their cow calves and does ^qnot miscarry.

11  They send out their little boys like a flock,

and their children dance.

12  They sing to the tambourine and the lyre

and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.

13  They spend their days in prosperity,

and in peace they go down to Sheol.

14  ^rThey say to God, ‘Depart from us!

We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.

15  What is the Almighty, that we should serve him?

And ^swhat profit do we get if we pray to him?’

16  Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand?

The ^tcounsel of the wicked is far from me.