Job 21
1 Then Job made answer and said,
Then Job answered:
2 Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.
“Listen carefully to my words; let this be your consolation to me.
3 Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.
Bear with me while I speak; then, after I have spoken, you may go on mocking.
4 As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?
Is my complaint against a man? Then why should I not be impatient?
5 Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.
Look at me and be appalled; put your hand over your mouth.
6 At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.
When I remember, terror takes hold, and my body trembles in horror.
7 Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
8 Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their descendants are established around them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.
Their homes are safe from fear; no rod of punishment from God is upon them.
10 Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
Their bulls breed without fail; their cows bear calves and do not miscarry.
11 They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,
They send forth their little ones like a flock; their children skip about,
12 They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
singing to the tambourine and lyre and making merry at the sound of the flute.
13 Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace. (Sheol h7585)
14 Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.
Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways.
15 What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’
16 Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)
Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.
17 How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords?
How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come upon them? Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction?
18 How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm?
19 You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it!
It is said that God lays up one’s punishment for his children. Let God repay the man himself, so he will know it.
20 Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
Let his eyes see his own destruction; let him drink for himself the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
For what does he care about his household after him, when the number of his months has run out?
22 Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since He judges those on high?
23 One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:
One man dies full of vigor, completely secure and at ease.
24 His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
His body is well nourished, and his bones are rich with marrow.
25 And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
Yet another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, having never tasted prosperity.
26 Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
But together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them both.
27 See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;
Behold, I know your thoughts full well, the schemes by which you would wrong me.
28 For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
For you say, ‘Where now is the nobleman’s house, and where are the tents in which the wicked dwell?’
29 Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?
Have you never asked those who travel the roads? Do you not accept their reports?
30 How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?
Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of calamity, delivered from the day of wrath.
31 Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?
Who denounces his behavior to his face? Who repays him for what he has done?
32 He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
He is carried to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.
33 The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.
The clods of the valley are sweet to him; everyone follows behind him, and those before him are without number.
34 Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit?
So how can you comfort me with empty words? For your answers remain full of falsehood.”
