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