Job 21
1 Then Job answered, and said,
Then Job answered,
2 Hear diligently my speech, And let this be your consolations.
"Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
3 Allow me, and I also will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.
Allow me, and I also will speak; After I have spoken, mock on.
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?
As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn't I be impatient?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
6 Even when I remember, I am troubled, and horror takes hold on my flesh.
When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
7 Why do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow mighty in power?
"Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, nor is the rod of God upon them.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Their bull breeds, and does not fail. Their cow brings forth safely, and does not miscarry.
Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and do not miscarry.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
They send forth their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 And they say to God, Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of thy ways.
They tell God, 'Depart from us, for we do not want to know about your ways.
15 What is the Almighty that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray to him?
What is Shaddai, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?'
16 Lo, is their prosperity not in their hand. (The counsel of the wicked is far from me.)
Look, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 How often is it that the lamp of the profane is put out, that their calamity comes upon them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger,
"How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that he distributes sorrows in his anger?
18 that they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away?
How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
19 Ye say, God lays up his iniquity for his sons. Let him recompense it to himself that he may know it.
You say, 'God lays up his iniquity for his children.' Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of Shaddai.
21 For what does he care for his house after him when the number of his months is cut off?
For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing he judges those who are high?
"Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing he judges those who are high?
23 One man dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 And another man dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covers them.
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices with which ye would wrong me.
"Look, I know your thoughts, the devices with which you would wrong me.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent in which the wicked dwelt?
For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'
29 Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences,
Haven't you asked wayfaring men? Do you not know their evidences,
30 that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?
that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, That they are led forth to the day of wrath?
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he has done?
Who shall declare his way to his face? Who shall repay him what he has done?
32 Yet he shall be borne to the grave, and men shall keep watch over the tomb.
Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men shall keep watch over the tomb.
33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him. And all men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him. All men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 How then ye comfort me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
So how can you comfort me with nonsense, seeing that in your answers there remains only falsehood?"
