Job 21
1 BUT Job answered and said,
Then Job made answer and said,
2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.
3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.
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 outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.
6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,
12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the 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 Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?
16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)
17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords?
18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
19 God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.
You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it!
20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:
24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;
28 For ye 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 ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,
Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?
30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.
34 How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?
Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit?
