Job 21
1 And Job answered and said,
Then Job answered,
2 Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations.
“Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
3 Suffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on!
Allow me, and I also will speak. After I have spoken, mock on.
4 As for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient?
As for me, is my complaint to man? Why should not I be impatient?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay the hand upon the mouth.
Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
6 Even when I think [thereon], I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power?
“Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and do not miscarry.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
They send out their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
12 They shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol (Sheol h7585).
14 And they say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we do not want to know about your ways.
15 What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’
16 Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked be far from me!
Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and cometh their calamity upon them? Doth he distribute sorrows [to them] in his anger?
“How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger?
18 Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
19 God layeth up [the punishment of] his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it]:
You say, ‘God lays up his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.
20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the fury of the Almighty.
Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what pleasure should he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Can any teach God knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.
“Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His sides are full of fat, and the marrow of his bones is moistened;
His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good:
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
26 Together they lie down in the dust, and the worms cover them.
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
27 Lo, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me.
“Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would wrong me.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the noble? and where the tent of the dwellings of the wicked?
For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
29 Have ye not asked the wayfarers? and do ye not regard their tokens:
Have not you asked wayfaring men? Do not you know their evidences,
30 That the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to the day of wrath.
that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led out to the day of wrath?
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
Who will declare his way to his face? Who will repay him what he has done?
32 Yet is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb.
Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men will keep watch over the tomb.
33 The clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable before him.
The clods of the valley will be sweet to him. All men will draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 How then comfort ye me in vain? Your answers remain perfidious.
So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”
