Job 21
1 Bvt Iob answered, and sayd,
Then Job answered,
2 Heare diligently my wordes, and this shalbe in stead of your consolations.
“Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
3 Suffer mee, that I may speake, and when I haue spoken, mocke on.
Allow me, and I also will speak. After I have spoken, mock on.
4 Doe I direct my talke to man? If it were so, how should not my spirit be troubled?
As for me, is my complaint to man? Why should not I be impatient?
5 Marke mee, and be abashed, and lay your hand vpon your mouth.
Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
6 Euen when I remember, I am afrayde, and feare taketh hold on my flesh.
When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked liue, and waxe olde, and grow in wealth?
“Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their seede is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes.
Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are peaceable without feare, and the rod of God is not vpon them.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Their bullocke gendreth, and fayleth not: their cow calueth, and casteth not her calfe.
Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and do not miscarry.
11 They send forth their children like sheepe, and their sonnes dance.
They send out their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
12 They take the tabret and harpe, and reioyce in the sound of the organs.
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 They say also vnto God, Depart from vs: for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes.
They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we do not want to know about your ways.
15 Who is the Almightie, that we should serue him? and what profit should we haue, if we should pray vnto him?
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’
16 Lo, their wealth is not in their hand: therfore let the counsell of the wicked bee farre from me.
Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 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.
“How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger?
18 They shall be as stubble before the winde, and as chaffe that the storme carieth away.
How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
19 God wil lay vp the sorowe of the father for his children: when he rewardeth him, hee shall knowe it.
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 destruction, and he shall drinke of the wrath of the Almightie.
Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the nomber of his moneths is cut off?
For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Shall any teache God knowledge, who iudgeth the highest things?
“Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?
23 One dyeth in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperitie.
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His breasts are full of milke, and his bones runne full of marowe.
His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 And another dieth in the bitternes of his soule, and neuer eateth with pleasure.
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
26 They shall sleepe both in the dust, and the wormes shall couer them.
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the enterprises, wherewith ye do me wrong.
“Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would wrong me.
28 For ye say, Where is the princes house? and where is the tabernacle of the wickeds dwelling?
For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
29 May ye not aske the that go by the way? and ye can not deny their signes.
Have not you asked wayfaring men? Do not you know their evidences,
30 But the wicked is kept vnto the day of destruction, and they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led out to the day of wrath?
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall reward him for that he hath done?
Who will declare his way to his face? Who will repay him what he has done?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the graue, and remaine in the heape.
Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men will keep watch over the tomb.
33 The slimie valley shalbe sweete vnto him, and euery man shall draw after him, as before him there were innumerable.
The clods of the valley will be sweet to him. All men will draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 How then comfort ye me in vaine, seeing in your answeres there remaine but lyes?
So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”
