Job 21
1 Then Job answered, and said:
Then Job answered,
2 Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance.
"Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
3 Suffer me, and I will speak, and after, if you please, laugh at my words.
Allow me, and I also will speak; After 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? Why shouldn't I be impatient?
5 Hearken to me and be astonished, and lay your finger on your mouth.
Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
6 As for me, when I remember, I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
7 Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?
"Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of children’s children in their sight.
Their child is established with them in their sight, 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 bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and do not miscarry.
11 Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children dance and play.
They send forth their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
12 They take the timbrel, and the harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
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 Who have said to God: Depart from us, 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 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what doth it profit us if we pray to him?
What is Shaddai, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?'
16 Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may the counsel of the wicked be far from me.
Look, their prosperity 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 it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that he distributes sorrows in his anger?
18 They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes which the whirlwind scattereth.
How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, 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.
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 own destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of Shaddai.
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 does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?
"Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing he judges those who 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 pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches:
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
26 And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
27 Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against me.
"Look, I know your thoughts, the devices with which you would wrong me.
28 For you say: Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'
29 Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things.
Haven't you asked wayfaring men? Do you not know their evidences,
30 Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, and he shall be brought to the day of wrath.
that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, That they are led 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? 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 he will be borne to the grave. Men shall keep watch over 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 to him. All men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 How then do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewn to be repugnant to truth?
So how can you comfort me with nonsense, seeing that in your answers there remains only falsehood?"
