Job 21
1 But Job answered and said,
Then Job answered, and said:
2 Hear ye, hear ye my words, that I may not have this consolation from you.
Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance.
3 Raise me, and I will speak; then ye shall not laugh me to scorn.
Suffer me, and I will speak, and after, if you please, laugh at my words.
4 What! is my reproof of man? and why should I not be angry?
Is my debate against man, that I should not have just reason to be troubled?
5 Look upon me, and wonder, laying your hand upon your cheek.
Hearken to me and be astonished, and lay your finger on your mouth.
6 For even when I remember, I am alarmed, and pains seize my flesh.
As for me, when I remember, I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the ungodly live, and grow old even in wealth?
Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?
8 Their seed is according to [their] desire, and their children are in [their] sight.
Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of children’s children in their sight.
9 Their houses are prosperous, neither [have they] any where [cause for] fear, neither is there a scourge from the Lord upon them.
Their houses are secure and peaceable, and the rod of God is not upon them.
10 Their cow does not cast her calf, and their [beast] with young is safe, and does not miscarry.
Their cattle have conceived, and failed not: their cow has calved, and is not deprived of her fruit.
11 And they remain as an unfailing flock, and their children play before [them], taking up the psaltery and harp;
Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children dance and play.
12 and they rejoice at the voice of a song.
They take the timbrel, and the harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to hell. (Sheol h7585)
14 Yet [such a man] says to the Lord, Depart from me; I desire not to know thy ways.
Who have said to God: Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
15 What is the Mighty One, that we should serve him? and what profit is there that we should approach him?
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what doth it profit us if we pray to him?
16 For their good things were in [their] hands, but he regards not the works of the ungodly.
Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may the counsel of the wicked be far from me.
17 Nevertheless, the lamp of the ungodly also shall be put out, and destruction shall come upon them, and pangs of vengeance shall seize them.
How often shall the lamp of the wicked be put out, and a deluge come upon them, and he shall distribute the sorrows of his wrath?
18 And they shall be as chaff before the wind, or as dust which the storm has taken up.
They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes which the whirlwind scattereth.
19 Let his substance fail [to supply] his children: [God] shall recompense him, and he shall know it.
God shall lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: and when he shall repay, then shall he know.
20 Let his eyes see his own destruction, and let him not be saved by the Lord.
His eyes shall see his own destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For his desire is in his house with him, and the number of his months has been suddenly cut off.
For what is it to him what befalleth his house after him: and if the number of his months be diminished by one half?
22 Is it not the Lord who teaches understanding and knowledge? and does not he judge murders?
Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?
23 One shall die in his perfect strength, and wholly at ease and prosperous;
One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy.
24 and his inwards are full of fat, and his marrow is diffused [throughout him].
His bowels are full of fat, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 And another dies in bitterness of soul, not eating any good thing.
But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches:
26 But they lie down in the earth together, and corruption covers them.
And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.
27 So I know you, that ye presumptuously attack me:
Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against me.
28 so that ye will say, Where is the house of the prince? and where is the covering of the tabernacles of the ungodly?
For you say: Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 Ask those that go by the way, and do not disown their tokens.
Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things.
30 For the wicked hastens to the day of destruction: they shall be led away for the day of his vengeance.
Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, and he shall be brought to the day of wrath.
31 Who will tell him his way to his face, whereas he has done [it]? who shall recompense him?
Who shall reprove his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 And he has been led away to the tombs, and he has watched over the heaps.
He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the heap of the dead.
33 The stones of the valley have been sweet to him, and every man shall depart after him, and [there are] innumerable [ones] before him.
He hath been acceptable to the gravel of Cocytus, and he shall draw every man after him, and there are innumerable before him.
34 How then do ye comfort me in vain? whereas I have no rest from your molestation.
How then do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewn to be repugnant to truth?
