Job 21
1 Then Job made answer and said,
And Job answers and says:
2 Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.
“Hear my word diligently, And this is your consolation.
3 Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.
Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking—you may deride.
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] man? And if [so], why may my temper not become short?
5 Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.
Turn to me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.
6 At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.
Indeed, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh has taken fright.
7 Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
Why do the wicked live? They have become old, Indeed, they have been mighty in wealth.
8 Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their seed is established, Before their face with 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 houses [are] peace without fear, Nor [is] a rod of God on them.
10 Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
His bullock breeds without fail. His cow brings forth safely, and does not miscarry.
11 They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,
They send forth their sucklings as a flock, And their children skip,
12 They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
They lift [themselves] up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of a 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 good, And in a moment go down [to] Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.
And they say to God, Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Your ways We have not desired.
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 Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?
16 Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)
Behold, their good [is] not in their hand (The counsel of the wicked Has been 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 extinguished, And their calamity comes on them? He apportions pangs in His anger.
18 How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a windstorm has stolen 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!
God lays up for his sons his sorrow, He gives repayment to him—and he knows.
20 Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
His own eyes see his destruction, And he drinks of the wrath of the Mighty.
21 For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
For what [is] his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off?
22 Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
Does [one] 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:
This [one] dies in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow moistens his bones.
25 And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
And this [one] dies with a bitter soul, And has not eaten with gladness.
26 Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
Together they lie down on the dust, And the worm covers them over.
27 See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;
Behold, I have known your thoughts, And the schemes against me you do wrongfully.
28 For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
For you say, Where [is] the house of the noble? And where the tent—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 you not asked those passing by the way? And do you not know their signs?
30 How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?
That the wicked is spared to a day of calamity. They are brought to a 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 declares his way to his face? And [for] that which he has done, Who gives repayment to him?
32 He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
And he is brought to the graves, And a watch is kept over the heap.
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 have been sweet to him, And he draws every man after him, And there is no numbering before him.
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?
And how do you comfort me [with] vanity, And trespass has been left in your answers?”
