Job 21
1 Bvt Iob answered, and sayd,
Then Job answered and said:
2 Heare diligently my wordes, and this shalbe in stead of your consolations.
Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
3 Suffer mee, that I may speake, and when I haue spoken, mocke on.
Suffer me, that I may speak; and after that 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? Or why should I not be impatient?
5 Marke mee, and be abashed, and lay your hand vpon your mouth.
Turn unto me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Euen when I remember, I am afrayde, and feare taketh hold on my flesh.
Even when I remember I am affrighted, and horror hath taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked liue, and waxe olde, and grow in wealth?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
8 Their seede is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes.
Their seed is established in their sight 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 safe, without 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 bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 They send forth their children like sheepe, and their sonnes dance.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 They take the tabret and harpe, and reioyce in the sound of the organs.
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 They say also vnto God, Depart from vs: for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes.
Yet they said unto God: 'Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy 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? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?' —
16 Lo, their wealth is not in their hand: therfore let the counsell of the wicked bee farre from me.
Lo, 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 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 They shall be as stubble before the winde, and as chaffe that the storme carieth away.
That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm stealeth away?
19 God wil lay vp the sorowe of the father for his children: when he rewardeth him, hee shall knowe it.
'God layeth up his iniquity for his children!' — let Him recompense it unto 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, and 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 pleasure hath he in his house after him? seeing the number of his months is determined.
22 Shall any teache God knowledge, who iudgeth the highest things?
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing it is He that judgeth those that are high.
23 One dyeth in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperitie.
One dieth 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, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 And another dieth in the bitternes of his soule, and neuer eateth with pleasure.
And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted of good.
26 They shall sleepe both in the dust, and the wormes shall couer them.
They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the enterprises, wherewith ye do me wrong.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28 For ye say, Where is the princes house? and where is the tabernacle of the wickeds dwelling?
For ye say: 'Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?'
29 May ye not aske the that go by the way? and ye can not deny their signes.
Have ye not asked them that go by the way; and will ye misdeem their tokens,
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 forth to the day of wrath?
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall reward him for that he hath done?
But who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the graue, and remaine in the heape.
For he is borne to the grave, and watch is kept over his 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 are sweet unto him, and all men 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?
How then comfort ye me in vain? And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness?
