Job 21
1 Bvt Iob answered, and sayd,
But Job answered and said:
2 Heare diligently my wordes, and this shalbe in stead of your consolations.
Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
3 Suffer mee, that I may speake, and when I haue spoken, mocke on.
Bear with me, that I may speak; And 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?
Is my complaint concerning man? Why then should I not be angry?
5 Marke mee, and be abashed, and lay your hand vpon your mouth.
Look upon 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.
When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked liue, and waxe olde, and grow in wealth?
Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
8 Their seede is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes.
Their children are 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 in peace, without fear, And the rod of God cometh not 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 in a moment go down to the under-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! 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?
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what will it profit us, 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.
[[Ye say, ]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”
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? And that destruction cometh upon them, And that He dispenseth to them tribulations in his anger?
18 They shall be as stubble before the winde, and as chaffe that the storme carieth away.
How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth away?
19 God wil lay vp the sorowe of the father for his children: when he rewardeth him, hee shall knowe it.
“But” [[say ye]] “God layeth up his iniquity for his children.” Let him requite the offender, and let him feel 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 concern hath he for his household after him, When the number of his own months is completed?
22 Shall any teache God knowledge, who iudgeth the highest things?
Who then shall impart knowledge to God, —To him that judgeth the highest?
23 One dyeth in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperitie.
One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, Being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 His breasts are full of milke, and his bones runne full of marowe.
His sides are full of fat, And his bones moist with marrow.
25 And another dieth in the bitternes of his soule, and neuer eateth with pleasure.
Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
26 They shall sleepe both in the dust, and the wormes shall couer them.
Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the enterprises, wherewith ye do me wrong.
Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices by which ye wrong 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 oppressor, And where 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 never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know 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 wicked is spared in the day of destruction, And that he is borne to his grave 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 charge him with his conduct to his face, And who will requite him for the evil he hath done?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the graue, and remaine in the heape.
Even this man is borne with honor to the grave; Yea, he watcheth over his tomb.
33 The slimie valley shalbe sweete vnto him, and euery man shall draw after him, as before him there were innumerable.
Sweet to him are the sods of the valley: And all men move after him, As multitudes without number before him.
34 How then comfort ye me in vaine, seeing in your answeres there remaine but lyes?
Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
