Job 21
1 Bvt Iob answered, and sayd,
Then Job made answer and said,
2 Heare diligently my wordes, and this shalbe in stead of your consolations.
Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.
3 Suffer mee, that I may speake, and when I haue spoken, mocke on.
Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.
4 Doe I direct my talke to man? If it were so, how should not my spirit be troubled?
As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?
5 Marke mee, and be abashed, and lay your hand vpon your mouth.
Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.
6 Euen when I remember, I am afrayde, and feare taketh hold on my flesh.
At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.
7 Wherefore do the wicked liue, and waxe olde, and grow in wealth?
Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
8 Their seede is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes.
Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are peaceable without feare, and the rod of God is not vpon them.
Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.
10 Their bullocke gendreth, and fayleth not: their cow calueth, and casteth not her calfe.
Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
11 They send forth their children like sheepe, and their sonnes dance.
They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,
12 They take the tabret and harpe, and reioyce in the sound of the organs.
They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
14 They say also vnto God, Depart from vs: for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes.
Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of 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 Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?
16 Lo, their wealth is not in their hand: therfore let the counsell of the wicked bee farre from me.
Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers 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 frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords?
18 They shall be as stubble before the winde, and as chaffe that the storme carieth away.
How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
19 God wil lay vp the sorowe of the father for his children: when he rewardeth him, hee shall knowe it.
You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it!
20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drinke of the wrath of the Almightie.
Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the nomber of his moneths is cut off?
For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
22 Shall any teache God knowledge, who iudgeth the highest things?
Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
23 One dyeth in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperitie.
One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:
24 His breasts are full of milke, and his bones runne full of marowe.
His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
25 And another dieth in the bitternes of his soule, and neuer eateth with pleasure.
And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
26 They shall sleepe both in the dust, and the wormes shall couer them.
Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the enterprises, wherewith ye do me wrong.
See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against 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 ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
29 May ye not aske the that go by the way? and ye can not deny their signes.
Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?
30 But the wicked is kept vnto the day of destruction, and they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in 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 make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the graue, and remaine in the heape.
He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
33 The slimie valley shalbe sweete vnto him, and euery man shall draw after him, as before him there were innumerable.
The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.
34 How then comfort ye me in vaine, seeing in your answeres there remaine but lyes?
Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit?
