Job 21
1 Then answered Job, and said,
Then Job answered, and said:
2 Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance.
3 Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
Suffer me, and I will speak, and after, if you please, laugh at my words.
4 As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
Is my debate against man, that I should not have just reason to be troubled?
5 Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Hearken to me and be astonished, and lay your finger on your mouth.
6 Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
As for me, when I remember, I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?
8 Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of children’s children in their sight.
9 Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
Their houses are secure and peaceable, and the rod of God is not upon them.
10 The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
Their cattle have conceived, and failed not: their cow has calved, and is not deprived of her fruit.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children skip about [with joy].
Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children dance and play.
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They take the timbrel, and the harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
13 They wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to hell. (Sheol h7585)
14 And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
Who have said to God: Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what doth it profit us if we pray to him?
16 Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] far from me.
Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may the counsel of the wicked be far from me.
17 How often is the lamp of the wicked quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
How often shall the lamp of the wicked be put out, and a deluge come upon them, and he shall distribute the sorrows of his wrath?
18 Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes which the whirlwind scattereth.
19 Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
God shall lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: and when he shall repay, then shall he know.
20 His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
His eyes shall see his own destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
For what is it to him what befalleth his house after him: and if the number of his months be diminished by one half?
22 Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?
23 That this one dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy.
24 His vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
His bowels are full of fat, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches:
26 [And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against me.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? and where is the tent of the dwelling-places of the wicked?
For you say: Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things.
30 That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward to the day of wrath.
Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, and he shall be brought to the day of wrath.
31 [But] who will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
Who shall reprove his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the heap of the dead.
33 Sweet are to him the clods of the valley; and after him succeedeth every man, as those that were before him are without number.
He hath been acceptable to the gravel of Cocytus, and he shall draw every man after him, and there are innumerable before him.
34 How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
How then do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewn to be repugnant to truth?
