Job 21
1 Job replied,
But 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? and if it were so, why 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!
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand on 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 afraid, and trembling takes hold on my flesh.
7 Why do the wicked continue to live, to grow old and increasingly powerful?
Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, are 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 from fear, neither is the rod of God on them.
10 Their bulls always breed successfully; their cows give birth to calves and do not miscarry.
Their bull engenders, and fails not; their cow calves, and casts 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 take the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 Yet they tell God, ‘Get lost! We don't want anything to do with you.
Therefore they say to God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your 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 to him?
16 Such people believe they make their own fortune, but I don't accept their way of thinking.
See, their good 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 the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft comes their destruction on them! God distributes sorrows in his anger.
18 Are they blown along like straw in the wind? Does a tornado come in and carry them away?
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries 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 lays up his iniquity for his children: he rewards him, and he shall know it.
20 Let them see their destruction themselves, and drink deeply from God's anger.
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall 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 has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the middle?
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 he judges those that are high.
23 One person dies in good health, totally comfortable and secure.
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 Their body is fat from eating well; their bones still strong.
His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 Another dies after a miserable life without every experiencing happiness.
And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure.
26 Yet they are both buried in the same dust; they are treated alike in death, eaten by maggots.
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover 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 you 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 you say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 Haven't you asked people who travel? Don't you pay attention to what they tell you?
Have you not asked them that go by the way? and do you not know their tokens,
30 Wicked people are spared in times of disaster; they are rescued from the day of judgment.
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? 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 repay him what he has 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 grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
33 Everyone attends their funeral service; a huge procession of people comes to pay their last respects.
The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are 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 you me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
