Job 21
1 But Job answered and said,
But Job answered and said:
2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
Bear with me, that I may speak; And after I have spoken, mock on!
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
Is my complaint concerning man? Why then should I not be angry?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand on your mouth.
Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!
6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling takes hold on my flesh.
When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, are mighty in power?
Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their children are established in their sight with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God on them.
Their houses are in peace, without fear, And the rod of God cometh not upon them.
10 Their bull engenders, and fails not; their cow calves, and casts not her calf.
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.
12 They take the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment go down to the under-world. (Sheol h7585)
14 Therefore they say to God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways.
And yet they say unto 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 to him?
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what will it profit us, if we pray to him?”
16 See, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
[[Ye say, ]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”
17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft comes their destruction on them! God distributes sorrows in his anger.
How often is it, that the lamp of the wicked is put out? And that destruction cometh upon them, And that He dispenseth to them tribulations in his anger?
18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.
How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth away?
19 God lays up his iniquity for his children: he rewards him, and he shall know it.
“But” [[say ye]] “God layeth up his iniquity for his children.” Let him requite the offender, and let him feel it!
20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty!
21 For what pleasure has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the middle?
For what concern hath he for his household after him, When the number of his own months is completed?
22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are high.
Who then shall impart knowledge to God, —To him that judgeth the highest?
23 One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, Being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
His sides are full of fat, And his bones moist with marrow.
25 And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure.
Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which you wrongfully imagine against me.
Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices by which ye wrong me.
28 For you say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
For ye say, “Where is the house of the oppressor, And where the dwelling-places of the wicked?”
29 Have you not asked them that go by the way? and do you not know their tokens,
Have ye never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know their tokens,
30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
That the wicked is spared in the day of destruction, And that he is borne to his grave in the day of wrath?
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he has done?
Who will charge him with his conduct to his face, And who will requite him for the evil he hath done?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
Even this man is borne with honor to the grave; Yea, he watcheth over his tomb.
33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
Sweet to him are the sods of the valley: And all men move after him, As multitudes without number before him.
34 How then comfort you me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
