Job 21
1 Then Job answered and said:
Then Job answered and said,
2 Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
“Listen carefully to my words, and let this be the comfort you offer to me.
3 Suffer me, that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
Put up with me, and I also will speak; after I have spoken, mock on.
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? Or why should I not be impatient?
As for me, is my complaint to a person? Why should I not be impatient?
5 Turn unto me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Look at me and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Even when I remember I am affrighted, and horror hath taketh hold on my flesh.
When I think about my sufferings, I am terrified, and trembling seizes my body.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
Why do wicked people continue to live, become old, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring are established before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe, without fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
Their houses are safe from fear; neither is the rod of God on them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
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 little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
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 Yet they said unto God: 'Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways.
They say to God, 'Depart from us for we do not wish any knowledge of 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 Almighty, that we should worship him? What advantage would we get if we prayed to him?'
16 Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand; the counsel of the wicked is far 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 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 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 That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm stealeth away?
How often is it that they become like stubble before the wind or like chaff that the storm carries away?
19 'God layeth up his iniquity for his children!' — let Him recompense it unto himself, that he may know 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 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 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 does he care about his family after him when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing it is He that judgeth those that are high.
Can anyone teach God knowledge since he judges even those who are high?
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
One man dies in his full strength, being completely quiet and at ease.
24 His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
His body is full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moist.
25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted of good.
Another man dies in bitterness of soul, one who has never experienced anything good.
26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
They lie down alike in the dust; the worms cover them both.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
See, I know your thoughts, and the ways in which you wish to wrong 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 now is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked man once lived?'
29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way; and will ye misdeem their tokens,
Have you never asked traveling people? Do you not know the evidence they can tell,
30 That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led 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 But who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?
Who will condemn the wicked man's way to his face? Who will repay him for what he has done?
32 For he is borne to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.
Yet he will be borne to the grave; men will keep watch over his tomb.
33 The clods of the valley are sweet unto him, and all men draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
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 vain? And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness?
How then do you comfort me with nonsense, since in your answers there is nothing but falsehood?”
