Job 21
1 Then Job answered, and said:
But Job answered and said,
2 Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance.
Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
3 Suffer me, and I will speak, and after, if you please, laugh at my words.
Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4 Is my debate against man, that I should not have just reason to be troubled?
As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
5 Hearken to me and be astonished, and lay your finger on your mouth.
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 As for me, when I remember, I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling takes hold on my flesh.
7 Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
8 Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of children’s children in their sight.
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are secure and peaceable, and the rod of God is not upon them.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Their cattle have conceived, and failed not: their cow has calved, and is not deprived of her fruit.
Their bull genders, and fails not; their cow calves, and casts not her calf.
11 Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children dance and play.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 They take the timbrel, and the harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 Who have said to God: Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways.
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what doth it profit us if we pray to him?
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
16 Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may the counsel of the wicked be far from me.
Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 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?
How often is the candle of the wicked put out! and how often comes their destruction upon them! God distributes sorrows in his anger.
18 They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes which the whirlwind scattereth.
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.
19 God shall lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: and when he shall repay, then shall he know.
God lays up his iniquity for his children: he rewards him, and he shall know it.
20 His eyes shall see his own destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what is it to him what befalleth his house after him: and if the number of his months be diminished by one half?
For what pleasure has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
22 Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are high.
23 One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy.
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His bowels are full of fat, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches:
And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure.
26 And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27 Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against me.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which all of you wrongfully imagine against me.
28 For you say: Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
For all of you say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things.
Have all of you not asked them that go by the way? and do all of you not know their tokens,
30 Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, and he shall be brought to the day of wrath.
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31 Who shall reprove his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he has done?
32 He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the heap of the dead.
Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
33 He hath been acceptable to the gravel of Cocytus, and he shall draw every man after him, and there are innumerable before him.
The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
34 How then do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewn to be repugnant to truth?
How then comfort all of you me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
