Job 21
1 But Job answered and said,
Then Job answered,
2 Hear you, hear you my words, that I may not have this consolation from you.
“Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
3 Raise me, and I will speak; then you shall not laugh me to scorn.
Allow me, and I also will speak. After I have spoken, mock on.
4 What! is my reproof of man? and why should I not be angry?
As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?
5 Look upon me, and wonder, laying your hand upon your cheek.
Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
6 For even when I remember, I am alarmed, and pains seize my flesh.
When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
7 Therefore do the ungodly live, and grow old even in wealth?
“Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their seed is according to [their] desire, and their children are in [their] sight.
Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are prosperous, neither [have they] any where [cause for] fear, neither is there a scourge from the Lord upon them.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Their cow does not cast her calf, and their [beast] with young is safe, and does not miscarry.
Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry.
11 And they remain as an unfailing flock, and their children play before [them], taking up the lute and harp;
They send out their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
12 and they rejoice at the voice of a song.
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 Yet [such a man] says to the Lord, Depart from me; I desire not to know your ways.
They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about your ways.
15 What is the Mighty One, that we should serve him? and what profit is there that we should approach him?
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’
16 For their good things were in [their] hands, but he regards not the works of the ungodly.
Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 Nevertheless, the lamp of the ungodly also shall be put out, and destruction shall come upon them, and pangs of vengeance shall seize them.
“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 And they shall be as chaff before the wind, or as dust which the storm has taken up.
How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
19 Let his substance fail [to supply] his children: [God] shall recompense 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 Let his eyes see his own destruction, and let him not be saved by the Lord.
Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For his desire is in his house with him, and the number of his months has been suddenly cut off.
For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Is it not the Lord who teaches understanding and knowledge? and does not he judge murders?
“Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?
23 One shall die in his perfect strength, and wholly at ease and prosperous;
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 and his inwards are full of fat, and his marrow is diffused [throughout him].
His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 And another dies in bitterness of soul, not eating any good thing.
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
26 But they lie down in the earth together, and corruption covers them.
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
27 So I know you, that you presumptuously attack me:
“Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would wrong me.
28 so that you will say, Where is the house of the prince? and where is the covering of the tabernacles of the ungodly?
For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
29 Ask those that go by the way, and do not disown their tokens.
Haven’t you asked wayfaring men? Don’t you know their evidences,
30 For the wicked hastens to the day of destruction: they shall be led away for the day of his vengeance.
that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led out to the day of wrath?
31 Who will tell him his way to his face, whereas he has done [it]? who shall recompense him?
Who will declare his way to his face? Who will repay him what he has done?
32 And he has been led away to the tombs, and he has watched over the heaps.
Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men will keep watch over the tomb.
33 The stones of the valley have been sweet to him, and every man shall depart after him, and [there are] innumerable [ones] 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 do you comfort me in vain? whereas I have no rest from your molestation.
So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”
