Job 21
1 Job replied,
Then Job answered and said:
2 “Please listen carefully to what I say—that would be one comfort you could give me.
Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
3 Bear with me; let me speak. After I've spoken you can resume mocking me.
Suffer me, that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4 Am I complaining against people? Of course not. Why shouldn't I be impatient?
As for me, is my complaint to man? Or why should I not be impatient?
5 Just take a look at me. Aren't you appalled? Cover your mouth with your hand in shock!
Turn unto me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Every time I think of what's happened to me I am horrified and I shake all over with fear.
Even when I remember I am affrighted, and horror hath taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Why do the wicked continue to live, to grow old and increasingly powerful?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
8 Their children are with them; they watch their grandchildren grow up.
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring 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 safe, without fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Their bulls always breed successfully; their cows give birth to calves and do not miscarry.
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 They send out their little ones like lambs to play; their children dance around.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 They sing accompanied by the tambourine and lyre; they celebrate with the music of the flute.
They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, and peacefully they go down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 Yet they tell God, ‘Get lost! We don't want anything to do with you.
Yet they said unto God: 'Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways.
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?’
What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?' —
16 Such people believe they make their own fortune, but I don't accept their way of thinking.
Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand; the counsel of the wicked is far 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 is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? that their calamity cometh upon them? that He distributeth pains in His anger?
18 Are they blown along like straw in the wind? Does a tornado come in and carry them away?
That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm stealeth 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 layeth up his iniquity for his children!' — let Him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.
20 Let them see their destruction themselves, and drink deeply from God's anger.
Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
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? seeing the number of his months is determined.
22 Can anyone teach God anything he doesn't already know, since he is the one who judges even heavenly beings?
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing it is He that judgeth those that are high.
23 One person dies in good health, totally comfortable and secure.
One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 Their body is fat from eating well; their bones still strong.
His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 Another dies after a miserable life without every experiencing happiness.
And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted of good.
26 Yet they are both buried in the same dust; they are treated alike in death, eaten by maggots.
They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
27 Look, I know what you're thinking, and your schemes to do me wrong.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
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 house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?'
29 Haven't you asked people who travel? Don't you pay attention to what they tell you?
Have ye not asked them that go by the way; and will ye misdeem their tokens,
30 Wicked people are spared in times of disaster; they are rescued from the day of judgment.
That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led forth to the day of wrath?
31 Who confronts them with their actions? Who pays them back for what they have done?
But who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what 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.
For he is borne to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.
33 Everyone attends their funeral service; a huge procession of people comes to pay their last respects.
The clods of the valley are sweet unto him, and all men draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
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 vain? And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness?
