Job 21
1 But Job answered and said,
Then Job answered, and said,
2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
Hear diligently my speech, And let this be your consolations.
3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
Allow me, and I also will 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?
As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay [your] hand upon [your] mouth.
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
Even when I remember, I am troubled, and horror takes hold on my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
Why do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow mighty in power?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses [are] safe from fear, neither [is] the rod of God upon them.
Their houses are safe from fear, nor is the rod of God upon them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Their bull breeds, and does not fail. Their cow brings forth safely, and does not miscarry.
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 timbrel 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 they go down to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
And they say to God, Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of thy 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 Almighty that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray to him?
16 Lo, their good [is] not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Lo, is their prosperity 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] cometh their destruction upon them! [God] distributeth sorrows in his anger.
How often is it that the lamp of the profane is put out, that their calamity comes upon them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger,
18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
that they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away?
19 God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it].
Ye say, God lays up his iniquity for his sons. 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, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
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 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 judgeth those that are high.
Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing he judges those who are high?
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
One man 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, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
And another man 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, and the worm covers them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices [which] ye wrongfully imagine against me.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices with which ye would wrong me.
28 For ye 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 prince? And where is the tent in which the wicked dwelt?
29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,
Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not 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 forth to the day of wrath?
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him [what] he hath done?
Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he has done?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
Yet he shall be borne to the grave, and men shall keep watch over the tomb.
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 clods of the valley shall be sweet to him. And all men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?
How then ye comfort me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
