Job 21
1 Then Job answered, and said,
But Job answered and said:
2 Hear diligently my speech, And let this be your consolations.
Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
3 Allow me, and I also will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.
Bear with me, that I may speak; And after I have spoken, mock on!
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?
Is my complaint concerning man? Why then should I not be angry?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!
6 Even when I remember, I am troubled, and horror takes hold on my flesh.
When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 Why do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow mighty in power?
Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
8 Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their children are established in their sight with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, nor is the rod of God upon them.
Their houses are in peace, without fear, And the rod of God cometh not upon them.
10 Their bull breeds, and does not fail. Their cow brings forth safely, and does not miscarry.
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment go down to the under-world. (Sheol h7585)
14 And they say to God, Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of thy ways.
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us! We desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
15 What is the Almighty that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray to him?
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what will it profit us, if we pray to him?”
16 Lo, is their prosperity not in their hand. (The counsel of the wicked is far from me.)
[[Ye say, ]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”
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? And that destruction cometh upon them, And that He dispenseth to them tribulations in his anger?
18 that they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away?
How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth away?
19 Ye say, God lays up his iniquity for his sons. Let him recompense it to himself that he may know it.
“But” [[say ye]] “God layeth up his iniquity for his children.” Let him requite the offender, and let him feel 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, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty!
21 For what does he care for his house after him when the number of his months is cut off?
For what concern hath he for his household after him, When the number of his own months is completed?
22 Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing he judges those who are high?
Who then shall impart knowledge to God, —To him that judgeth the highest?
23 One man dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, Being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
His sides are full of fat, And his bones moist with marrow.
25 And another man dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covers them.
Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices with which ye would wrong me.
Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices by which ye wrong me.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent in which the wicked dwelt?
For ye say, “Where is the house of the oppressor, And where the dwelling-places of the wicked?”
29 Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences,
Have ye never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know their tokens,
30 that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?
That the wicked is spared in the day of destruction, And that he is borne to his grave in the day of wrath?
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he has done?
Who will charge him with his conduct to his face, And who will requite him for the evil he hath done?
32 Yet he shall be borne to the grave, and men shall keep watch over the tomb.
Even this man is borne with honor to the grave; Yea, he watcheth over his 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.
Sweet to him are the sods of the valley: And all men move after him, As multitudes without number before him.
34 How then ye comfort me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
