Job 21
1 Then Job answered and said:
Then Job answered,
2 Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
“Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
3 Suffer me, that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
Allow 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 man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?
5 Turn unto me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
6 Even when I remember I am affrighted, and horror hath taketh hold on my flesh.
When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
“Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring 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 upon them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
They send out their little ones like a flock. 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 at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 Yet they said unto God: 'Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways.
They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about 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 serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’
16 Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand; the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is 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 is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows 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 are as stubble before the wind, as 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 his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Let his own eyes see his destruction. 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 for his house 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.
“Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted of good.
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
“Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would 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 is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way; and will ye misdeem their tokens,
Haven’t you asked wayfaring men? Don’t you know their evidences,
30 That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led forth to the day of wrath?
that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led out 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 will declare his way to his face? Who will repay him 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 the 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 men will draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 How then comfort ye me in vain? And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness?
So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”
