Job 21
1 Job replied,
Bvt Iob answered, and sayd,
2 “Please listen carefully to what I say—that would be one comfort you could give me.
Heare diligently my wordes, and this shalbe in stead of your consolations.
3 Bear with me; let me speak. After I've spoken you can resume mocking me.
Suffer mee, that I may speake, and when I haue spoken, mocke on.
4 Am I complaining against people? Of course not. Why shouldn't I be impatient?
Doe I direct my talke to man? If it were so, how should not my spirit be troubled?
5 Just take a look at me. Aren't you appalled? Cover your mouth with your hand in shock!
Marke mee, and be abashed, and lay your hand vpon your mouth.
6 Every time I think of what's happened to me I am horrified and I shake all over with fear.
Euen when I remember, I am afrayde, and feare taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Why do the wicked continue to live, to grow old and increasingly powerful?
Wherefore do the wicked liue, and waxe olde, and grow in wealth?
8 Their children are with them; they watch their grandchildren grow up.
Their seede is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes.
9 They live in their homes in safety—they are not afraid. God does not use his rod to beat them.
Their houses are peaceable without feare, and the rod of God is not vpon them.
10 Their bulls always breed successfully; their cows give birth to calves and do not miscarry.
Their bullocke gendreth, and fayleth not: their cow calueth, and casteth not her calfe.
11 They send out their little ones like lambs to play; their children dance around.
They send forth their children like sheepe, and their sonnes dance.
12 They sing accompanied by the tambourine and lyre; they celebrate with the music of the flute.
They take the tabret and harpe, and reioyce in the sound of the organs.
They spend their dayes in wealth, and suddenly they go downe to the graue. (Sheol h7585)
14 Yet they tell God, ‘Get lost! We don't want anything to do with you.
They say also vnto God, Depart from vs: for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes.
15 Who does the Almighty think he is for us to serve him as slaves? What benefit is there for us if we pray to him?’
Who is the Almightie, that we should serue him? and what profit should we haue, if we should pray vnto him?
16 Such people believe they make their own fortune, but I don't accept their way of thinking.
Lo, their wealth is not in their hand: therfore let the counsell of the wicked bee farre from me.
17 How often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does disaster come upon them? How often does God punish the wicked in his anger?
How oft shall the candle of the wicked be put out? and their destruction come vpon them? he wil deuide their liues in his wrath.
18 Are they blown along like straw in the wind? Does a tornado come in and carry them away?
They shall be as stubble before the winde, and as chaffe that the storme carieth away.
19 Some say, ‘God saves up people's punishment for their children.’ But I say, ‘God should punish those people themselves so that they can learn from it.’
God wil lay vp the sorowe of the father for his children: when he rewardeth him, hee shall knowe it.
20 Let them see their destruction themselves, and drink deeply from God's anger.
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drinke of the wrath of the Almightie.
21 For they don't care what happens to their families once they're dead.
For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the nomber of his moneths is cut off?
22 Can anyone teach God anything he doesn't already know, since he is the one who judges even heavenly beings?
Shall any teache God knowledge, who iudgeth the highest things?
23 One person dies in good health, totally comfortable and secure.
One dyeth in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperitie.
24 Their body is fat from eating well; their bones still strong.
His breasts are full of milke, and his bones runne full of marowe.
25 Another dies after a miserable life without every experiencing happiness.
And another dieth in the bitternes of his soule, and neuer eateth with pleasure.
26 Yet they are both buried in the same dust; they are treated alike in death, eaten by maggots.
They shall sleepe both in the dust, and the wormes shall couer them.
27 Look, I know what you're thinking, and your schemes to do me wrong.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the enterprises, wherewith ye do me wrong.
28 You may ask me, ‘Where is the home of the great man? Where is the place where the wicked live?’
For ye say, Where is the princes house? and where is the tabernacle of the wickeds dwelling?
29 Haven't you asked people who travel? Don't you pay attention to what they tell you?
May ye not aske the that go by the way? and ye can not deny their signes.
30 Wicked people are spared in times of disaster; they are rescued from the day of judgment.
But the wicked is kept vnto the day of destruction, and they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31 Who confronts them with their actions? Who pays them back for what they have done?
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall reward him for that he hath done?
32 When they eventually die and are carried to the graveyard, their tomb is guarded. The earth of the grave softly covers them.
Yet shall he be brought to the graue, and remaine in the heape.
33 Everyone attends their funeral service; a huge procession of people comes to pay their last respects.
The slimie valley shalbe sweete vnto him, and euery man shall draw after him, as before him there were innumerable.
34 Why do you try to comfort me with worthless nonsense? Your answers are just a pack of lies!”
How then comfort ye me in vaine, seeing in your answeres there remaine but lyes?
