Job 21
1 And Job answered and said,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations.
Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
3 Suffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on!
Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
4 As for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient?
As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay the hand upon the mouth.
Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Even when I think [thereon], I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
8 Their seed is established with them in their sight, 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 safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children skip about [with joy].
12 They shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
14 And they say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
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? and what profit shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
16 Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked be far from me!
Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] 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 the lamp of the wicked quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
18 Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
19 God layeth up [the punishment of] his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know [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 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the fury of the Almighty.
His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
21 For what pleasure should he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
22 Can any teach God knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.
Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
That this one dieth 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 vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good:
While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
26 Together they lie down in the dust, and the worms cover them.
[And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
27 Lo, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the noble? and where the tent of the dwellings of the wicked?
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 ye not asked the wayfarers? and do ye not regard their tokens:
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
30 That the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to 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 shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
[But] who will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
32 Yet is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb.
Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
33 The clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable 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 How then comfort ye me in vain? Your answers remain perfidious.
How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
