Job 21
1 But Job answered and said,
Job replied,
2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
“Please listen carefully to what I say—that would be one comfort you could give me.
3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
Bear with me; let me speak. After I've spoken you can resume mocking me.
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
Am I complaining against people? Of course not. Why shouldn't I be impatient?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Just take a look at me. Aren't you appalled? Cover your mouth with your hand in shock!
6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling takes hold on my flesh.
Every time I think of what's happened to me I am horrified and I shake all over with fear.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
Why do the wicked continue to live, to grow old and increasingly powerful?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their children are with them; they watch their grandchildren grow up.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
They live in their homes in safety—they are not afraid. God does not use his rod to beat them.
10 Their bull genders, and fails not; their cow calves, and casts not her calf.
Their bulls always breed successfully; their cows give birth to calves and do not miscarry.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
They send out their little ones like lambs to play; their children dance around.
12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
They sing accompanied by the tambourine and lyre; they celebrate with the music of the flute.
They live out their lives contentedly, and go down to Sheol in peace. (Sheol h7585)
14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways.
Yet they tell God, ‘Get lost! We don't want anything to do with you.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
Who does the Almighty think he is for us to serve him as slaves? What benefit is there for us if we pray to him?’
16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Such people believe they make their own fortune, but I don't accept their way of thinking.
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.
How often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does disaster come upon them? How often does God punish the wicked in his anger?
18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.
Are they blown along like straw in the wind? Does a tornado come in and carry them away?
19 God lays up his iniquity for his children: he rewards him, and he shall know it.
Some say, ‘God saves up people's punishment for their children.’ But I say, ‘God should punish those people themselves so that they can learn from it.’
20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Let them see their destruction themselves, and drink deeply from God's anger.
21 For what pleasure has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
For they don't care what happens to their families once they're dead.
22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are high.
Can anyone teach God anything he doesn't already know, since he is the one who judges even heavenly beings?
23 One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
One person dies in good health, totally comfortable and secure.
24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
Their body is fat from eating well; their bones still strong.
25 And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure.
Another dies after a miserable life without every experiencing happiness.
26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
Yet they are both buried in the same dust; they are treated alike in death, eaten by maggots.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which all of you wrongfully imagine against me.
Look, I know what you're thinking, and your schemes to do me wrong.
28 For all of you say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
You may ask me, ‘Where is the home of the great man? Where is the place where the wicked live?’
29 Have all of you not asked them that go by the way? and do all of you not know their tokens,
Haven't you asked people who travel? Don't you pay attention to what they tell you?
30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
Wicked people are spared in times of disaster; they are rescued from the day of judgment.
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he has done?
Who confronts them with their actions? Who pays them back for what they have done?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
When they eventually die and are carried to the graveyard, their tomb is guarded. The earth of the grave softly covers them.
33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
Everyone attends their funeral service; a huge procession of people comes to pay their last respects.
34 How then comfort all of you me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
Why do you try to comfort me with worthless nonsense? Your answers are just a pack of lies!”
