Job 21
1 Then Job made answer and said,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.
Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
3 Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.
Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
4 As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?
As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
5 Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.
Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.
Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
7 Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
8 Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
9 Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.
Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
10 Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
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, and their children skip about [with joy].
12 They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
13 Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
They wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
14 Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
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?
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
16 Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)
Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] far from me.
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 quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
18 How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
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!
Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
20 Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
21 For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
22 Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
23 One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:
That this one dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
His vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
25 And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
26 Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
[And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
27 See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
28 For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? and where is the tent of the dwelling-places of the wicked?
29 Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
30 How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?
That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward to 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?
[But] who will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
32 He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
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.
Sweet are to him the clods of the valley; and after him succeedeth every man, as those that were 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?
How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
