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 you, hear you my words, that I may not have this consolation from you.
3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
Raise me, and I will speak; then you shall not laugh me to scorn.
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
What! is my reproof of man? and why should I not be angry?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Look upon me, and wonder, laying your hand upon your cheek.
6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling takes hold on my flesh.
For even when I remember, I am alarmed, and pains seize my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
Therefore do the ungodly live, and grow old even in wealth?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their seed is according to [their] desire, and their children are in [their] sight.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
Their houses are prosperous, neither [have they] any where [cause for] fear, neither is there a scourge from the Lord upon them.
10 Their bull genders, and fails not; their cow calves, and casts not her calf.
Their cow does not cast her calf, and their [beast] with young is safe, and does not miscarry.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
And they remain as an unfailing flock, and their children play before [them], taking up the lute and harp;
12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
and they rejoice at the voice of a song.
And they spend their days in wealth, and fall asleep in the rest of the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways.
Yet [such a man] says to the Lord, Depart from me; I desire not to know 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 Mighty One, that we should serve him? and what profit is there that we should approach him?
16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
For their good things were in [their] hands, but he regards not the works of the ungodly.
17 How often is the candle of the wicked put out! and how often comes their destruction upon them! God distributes sorrows in his anger.
Nevertheless, the lamp of the ungodly also shall be put out, and destruction shall come upon them, and pangs of vengeance shall seize them.
18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.
And they shall be as chaff before the wind, or as dust which the storm has taken up.
19 God lays up his iniquity for his children: he rewards him, and he shall know it.
Let his substance fail [to supply] his children: [God] shall recompense him, and he shall know it.
20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Let his eyes see his own destruction, and let him not be saved by the Lord.
21 For what pleasure has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
For his desire is in his house with him, and the number of his months has been suddenly cut off.
22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are high.
Is it not the Lord who teaches understanding and knowledge? and does not he judge murders?
23 One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
One shall die in his perfect strength, and wholly at ease and prosperous;
24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
and his inwards are full of fat, and his marrow is diffused [throughout him].
25 And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure.
And another dies in bitterness of soul, not eating any good thing.
26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
But they lie down in the earth together, and corruption covers them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which all of you wrongfully imagine against me.
So I know you, that you presumptuously attack me:
28 For all of you say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
so that you will say, Where is the house of the prince? and where is the covering of the tabernacles of the ungodly?
29 Have all of you not asked them that go by the way? and do all of you not know their tokens,
Ask those that go by the way, and do not disown their tokens.
30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
For the wicked hastens to the day of destruction: they shall be led away for the day of his vengeance.
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he has done?
Who will tell him his way to his face, whereas he has done [it]? who shall recompense him?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
And he has been led away to the tombs, and he has watched over the heaps.
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 stones of the valley have been sweet to him, and every man shall depart after him, and [there are] innumerable [ones] before him.
34 How then comfort all of you me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
How then do you comfort me in vain? whereas I have no rest from your molestation.
