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.
“Listen carefully to my words, and let this be the comfort you offer to me.
3 Suffer mee, that I may speake, and when I haue spoken, mocke on.
Put up with 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 a person? Why should I not be impatient?
5 Marke mee, and be abashed, and lay your hand vpon your mouth.
Look at 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 about my sufferings, I am terrified, and trembling seizes my body.
7 Wherefore do the wicked liue, and waxe olde, and grow in wealth?
Why do wicked people continue to live, become old, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their seede is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes.
Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring are established 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 on them.
10 Their bullocke gendreth, and fayleth not: their cow calueth, and casteth not her calfe.
Their bull breeds; it does not fail to do so; their cow gives birth and does not lose her calf prematurely.
11 They send forth their children like sheepe, and their sonnes dance.
They send out 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 tambourine and harp and rejoice with the music of the flute.
They spend their days in prosperity, and they go down quietly to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 They say also vnto God, Depart from vs: for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes.
They say to God, 'Depart from us for we do not wish any 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 Almighty, that we should worship him? What advantage would we get if we prayed to him?'
16 Lo, their wealth is not in their hand: therfore let the counsell of the wicked bee farre from me.
See, is not their prosperity in their own hands? I have nothing to do with the advice of wicked people.
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 wicked people is put out, or that their calamity comes upon them? How often does it happen that God distributes sorrows to them 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 become like stubble before the wind or like 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 one's guilt for his children to pay.' Let him pay it himself, so that he might know his guilt.
20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drinke of the wrath of the Almightie.
Let his eyes see his own 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 does he care about his family after him when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Shall any teache God knowledge, who iudgeth the highest things?
Can anyone teach God knowledge since he judges even those who are high?
23 One dyeth in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperitie.
One man dies in his full strength, being completely quiet and at ease.
24 His breasts are full of milke, and his bones runne full of marowe.
His body is full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moist.
25 And another dieth in the bitternes of his soule, and neuer eateth with pleasure.
Another man dies in bitterness of soul, one who has never experienced anything good.
26 They shall sleepe both in the dust, and the wormes shall couer them.
They lie down alike in the dust; the worms cover them both.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the enterprises, wherewith ye do me wrong.
See, I know your thoughts, and the ways in which you wish to wrong me.
28 For ye say, Where is the princes house? and where is the tabernacle of the wickeds dwelling?
For you say, 'Where now is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked man once lived?'
29 May ye not aske the that go by the way? and ye can not deny their signes.
Have you never asked traveling people? Do you not know the evidence they can tell,
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 man is kept from the day of calamity, and that he is led away from 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 condemn the wicked man's way to his face? Who will repay him for 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 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 will be sweet to him; all people will follow after him, as there were innumerable people before him.
34 How then comfort ye me in vaine, seeing in your answeres there remaine but lyes?
How then do you comfort me with nonsense, since in your answers there is nothing but falsehood?”
