Job 21
1 But 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? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand on your mouth.
Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling takes hold on my flesh.
When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
7 Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, are 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 from fear, neither is the rod of God on them.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Their bull engenders, and fails not; their cow calves, and casts 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 take the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
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 Therefore they say to God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your 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 to him?
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’
16 See, their good 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 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, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger?
18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.
How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
19 God lays up his iniquity for his children: he rewards him, and he shall know it.
You say, ‘God lays up his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know 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. 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 does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are high.
“Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?
23 One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure.
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which you wrongfully imagine against me.
“Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would wrong me.
28 For you say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
29 Have you not asked them that go by the way? and do you not know their tokens,
Haven’t you asked wayfaring men? Don’t you know their evidences,
30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought 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 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he has done?
Who will declare his way to his face? Who will repay him what he has done?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men will keep watch over the 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.
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 you me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”
