Job 21
1 Then Job answered, and said:
Then answered Job, and said,
2 Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance.
Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
3 Suffer me, and I will speak, and after, if you please, laugh at my words.
Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
4 Is my debate against man, that I should not have just reason to be troubled?
As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
5 Hearken to me and be astonished, and lay your finger on your mouth.
Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 As for me, when I remember, I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
7 Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
8 Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of children’s children in their sight.
Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
9 Their houses are secure and peaceable, and the rod of God is not upon them.
Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
10 Their cattle have conceived, and failed not: their cow has calved, and is not deprived of her fruit.
The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
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 skip about [with joy].
12 They take the timbrel, and the harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
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 Who have said to God: Depart from us, 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 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 shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
16 Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may 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 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 lamp of the wicked quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
18 They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes which the whirlwind scattereth.
Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
19 God shall lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: and when he shall repay, then shall he know.
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 own destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath 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 is it to him what befalleth his house after him: and if the number of his months be diminished by one half?
For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
22 Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?
Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
23 One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy.
That this one dieth 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 vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
25 But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches:
While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
26 And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.
[And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
27 Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against me.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
28 For you say: Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places 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 Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things.
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
30 Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, and he shall be brought 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 reprove 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 He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the heap of the dead.
Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
33 He hath been acceptable to the gravel of Cocytus, and he shall draw every man after him, and there are 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 do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewn to be repugnant to truth?
How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
