Job 21
1 Then answered Job, and said,
Job replied,
2 Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
“Please listen carefully to what I say—that would be one comfort you could give me.
3 Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
Bear with me; let me speak. After I've spoken you can resume mocking me.
4 As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
Am I complaining against people? Of course not. Why shouldn't I be impatient?
5 Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, 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 Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of 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, grow strong in power?
Why do the wicked continue to live, to grow old and increasingly powerful?
8 Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
Their children are with them; they watch their grandchildren grow up.
9 Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
They live in their homes in safety—they are not afraid. God does not use his rod to beat them.
10 The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
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 skip about [with joy].
They send out their little ones like lambs to play; their children dance around.
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They sing accompanied by the tambourine and lyre; they celebrate with the music of the flute.
13 They wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
They live out their lives contentedly, and go down to Sheol in peace. (Sheol h7585)
14 And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
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 shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
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, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] 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 lamp of the wicked quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot 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 Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
Are they blown along like straw in the wind? Does a tornado come in and carry them away?
19 Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
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 own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
Let them see their destruction themselves, and drink deeply from God's anger.
21 For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
For they don't care what happens to their families once they're dead.
22 Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
Can anyone teach God anything he doesn't already know, since he is the one who judges even heavenly beings?
23 That this one dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
One person dies in good health, totally comfortable and secure.
24 His vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
Their body is fat from eating well; their bones still strong.
25 While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
Another dies after a miserable life without every experiencing happiness.
26 [And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will 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 opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
Look, I know what you're thinking, and your schemes to do me wrong.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? and where is the tent of 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 ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
Haven't you asked people who travel? Don't you pay attention to what they tell you?
30 That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward to the day of wrath.
Wicked people are spared in times of disaster; they are rescued from the day of judgment.
31 [But] who will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
Who confronts them with their actions? Who pays them back for what they have done?
32 Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
When they eventually die and are carried to the graveyard, their tomb is guarded. The earth of the grave softly covers them.
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.
Everyone attends their funeral service; a huge procession of people comes to pay their last respects.
34 How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
Why do you try to comfort me with worthless nonsense? Your answers are just a pack of lies!”
