Job 21
1 Job replied,
Then Job answered,
2 “Please listen carefully to what I say—that would be one comfort you could give me.
"Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
3 Bear with me; let me speak. After I've spoken you can resume mocking me.
Allow me, and I also will speak; After 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? Why shouldn't I be impatient?
5 Just take a look at me. Aren't you appalled? Cover your mouth with your hand in shock!
Look at me, and be astonished. 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.
When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
7 Why do the wicked continue to live, to grow old and increasingly powerful?
"Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their children are with them; they watch their grandchildren grow up.
Their child is established with them in their sight, 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 upon them.
10 Their bulls always breed successfully; their cows give birth to calves and do not miscarry.
Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and do not miscarry.
11 They send out their little ones like lambs to play; their children dance around.
They send forth their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
12 They sing accompanied by the tambourine and lyre; they celebrate with the music of the flute.
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 Yet they tell God, ‘Get lost! We don't want anything to do with you.
They tell God, 'Depart from us, for we do not want to know about 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 Shaddai, that we should serve him? 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.
Look, 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 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 Are they blown along like straw in the wind? Does a tornado come in and carry them away?
How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, 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.’
You say, 'God lays up his iniquity for his children.' Let him recompense it to 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. Let him drink of the wrath of Shaddai.
21 For they don't care what happens to their families once they're dead.
For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months 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 teach God knowledge, seeing he judges those who 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 pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 Another dies after a miserable life without every experiencing happiness.
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes 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. The worm covers them.
27 Look, I know what you're thinking, and your schemes to do me wrong.
"Look, I know your thoughts, the devices with which you would wrong 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? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'
29 Haven't you asked people who travel? Don't you pay attention to what they tell you?
Haven't you asked wayfaring men? Do you not know their evidences,
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?
Who shall declare his way to his face? 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 he will be borne to the grave. Men shall keep watch over 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. All men shall 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!”
So how can you comfort me with nonsense, seeing that in your answers there remains only falsehood?"
