Job 21
1 Then Job answered and said:
Then Job answered, and said:
2 Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance.
3 Suffer me, that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
Suffer me, and I will speak, and after, if you please, laugh at my words.
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? Or why should I not be impatient?
Is my debate against man, that I should not have just reason to be troubled?
5 Turn unto me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Hearken to me and be astonished, and lay your finger on your mouth.
6 Even when I remember I am affrighted, and horror hath taketh hold on my flesh.
As for me, when I remember, I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of children’s children in their sight.
9 Their houses are safe, without fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
Their houses are secure and peaceable, and the rod of God is not upon them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Their cattle have conceived, and failed not: their cow has calved, and is not deprived of her fruit.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children dance and play.
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They take the timbrel, and the harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to hell. (Sheol h7585)
14 Yet they said unto God: 'Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways.
Who have said to God: Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?' —
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what doth it profit us if we pray to him?
16 Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand; the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may the counsel of the wicked be far from me.
17 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?
How often shall the lamp of the wicked be put out, and a deluge come upon them, and he shall distribute the sorrows of his wrath?
18 That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm stealeth away?
They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes which the whirlwind scattereth.
19 'God layeth up his iniquity for his children!' — let Him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.
God shall lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: and when he shall repay, then shall he know.
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
His eyes shall see his own destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him? seeing the number of his months is determined.
For what is it to him what befalleth his house after him: and if the number of his months be diminished by one half?
22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing it is He that judgeth those that are high.
Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy.
24 His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
His bowels are full of fat, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted of good.
But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches:
26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against me.
28 For ye say: 'Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?'
For you say: Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way; and will ye misdeem their tokens,
Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things.
30 That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led forth to the day of wrath?
Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, and he shall be brought to the day of wrath.
31 But who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?
Who shall reprove his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 For he is borne to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.
He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the heap of the dead.
33 The clods of the valley are sweet unto him, and all men draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
He hath been acceptable to the gravel of Cocytus, and he shall draw every man after him, and there are innumerable before him.
34 How then comfort ye me in vain? And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness?
How then do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewn to be repugnant to truth?
