Job 21
1 Then Job answered and said:
But Job answered and said,
2 Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
Hear you, hear you my words, that I may not have this consolation from you.
3 Suffer me, that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
Raise me, and I will speak; then you shall not laugh me to scorn.
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? Or why should I not be impatient?
What! is my reproof of man? and why should I not be angry?
5 Turn unto me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Look upon me, and wonder, laying your hand upon your cheek.
6 Even when I remember I am affrighted, and horror hath taketh hold on my flesh.
For even when I remember, I am alarmed, and pains seize my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
Therefore do the ungodly live, and grow old even in wealth?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their seed is according to [their] desire, and their children are in [their] sight.
9 Their houses are safe, without fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
Their houses are prosperous, neither [have they] any where [cause for] fear, neither is there a scourge from the Lord upon them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Their cow does not cast her calf, and their [beast] with young is safe, and does not miscarry.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
And they remain as an unfailing flock, and their children play before [them], taking up the lute and harp;
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
and they rejoice at the voice of a song.
And they spend their days in wealth, and fall asleep in the rest of the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 Yet they said unto God: 'Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways.
Yet [such a man] says to the Lord, Depart from me; I desire not to know your ways.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?' —
What is the Mighty One, that we should serve him? and what profit is there that we should approach him?
16 Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand; the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
For their good things were in [their] hands, but he regards not the works of the ungodly.
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?
Nevertheless, the lamp of the ungodly also shall be put out, and destruction shall come upon them, and pangs of vengeance shall seize them.
18 That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm stealeth away?
And they shall be as chaff before the wind, or as dust which the storm has taken up.
19 'God layeth up his iniquity for his children!' — let Him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.
Let his substance fail [to supply] his children: [God] shall recompense him, and he shall know it.
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Let his eyes see his own destruction, and let him not be saved by the Lord.
21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him? seeing the number of his months is determined.
For his desire is in his house with him, and the number of his months has been suddenly cut off.
22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing it is He that judgeth those that are high.
Is it not the Lord who teaches understanding and knowledge? and does not he judge murders?
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
One shall die in his perfect strength, and wholly at ease and prosperous;
24 His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
and his inwards are full of fat, and his marrow is diffused [throughout him].
25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted of good.
And another dies in bitterness of soul, not eating any good thing.
26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
But they lie down in the earth together, and corruption covers them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
So I know you, that you presumptuously attack me:
28 For ye say: 'Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?'
so that you will say, Where is the house of the prince? and where is the covering of the tabernacles of the ungodly?
29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way; and will ye misdeem their tokens,
Ask those that go by the way, and do not disown their tokens.
30 That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led forth to the day of wrath?
For the wicked hastens to the day of destruction: they shall be led away for the day of his vengeance.
31 But who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?
Who will tell him his way to his face, whereas he has done [it]? who shall recompense him?
32 For he is borne to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.
And he has been led away to the tombs, and he has watched over the heaps.
33 The clods of the valley are sweet unto him, and all men draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
The stones of the valley have been sweet to him, and every man shall depart after him, and [there are] innumerable [ones] before him.
34 How then comfort ye me in vain? And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness?
How then do you comfort me in vain? whereas I have no rest from your molestation.
