Job 21
1 Bvt Iob answered, and sayd,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 Heare diligently my wordes, and this shalbe in stead of your consolations.
Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
3 Suffer mee, that I may speake, and when I haue spoken, mocke on.
Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
4 Doe I direct my talke to man? If it were so, how should not my spirit be troubled?
As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
5 Marke mee, and be abashed, and lay your hand vpon your mouth.
Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Euen when I remember, I am afrayde, and feare taketh hold on my flesh.
Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked liue, and waxe olde, and grow in wealth?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
8 Their seede is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes.
Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
9 Their houses are peaceable without feare, and the rod of God is not vpon them.
Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
10 Their bullocke gendreth, and fayleth not: their cow calueth, and casteth not her calfe.
The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
11 They send forth their children like sheepe, and their sonnes dance.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children skip about [with joy].
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 wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
14 They say also vnto God, Depart from vs: for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes.
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
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 shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
16 Lo, their wealth is not in their hand: therfore let the counsell of the wicked bee farre from me.
Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] 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 the lamp of the wicked quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
18 They shall be as stubble before the winde, and as chaffe that the storme carieth away.
Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
19 God wil lay vp the sorowe of the father for his children: when he rewardeth him, hee shall knowe it.
Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drinke of the wrath of the Almightie.
His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the nomber of his moneths is cut off?
For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
22 Shall any teache God knowledge, who iudgeth the highest things?
Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
23 One dyeth in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperitie.
That this 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 vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
25 And another dieth in the bitternes of his soule, and neuer eateth with pleasure.
While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
26 They shall sleepe both in the dust, and the wormes shall couer them.
[And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the enterprises, wherewith ye do me wrong.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise 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 noble-minded? and where is the tent of the dwelling-places of the wicked?
29 May ye not aske the that go by the way? and ye can not deny their signes.
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
30 But the wicked is kept vnto the day of destruction, and they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward 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 will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the graue, and remaine in the heape.
Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
33 The slimie valley shalbe sweete vnto him, and euery man shall draw after him, as before him there were innumerable.
Sweet are to him the clods of the valley; and after him succeedeth every man, as those that were before him are without number.
34 How then comfort ye me in vaine, seeing in your answeres there remaine but lyes?
How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
