Job 21
1 Then answered Job, and said,
But Job answered and said,
2 Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
3 Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4 As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
5 Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand on your mouth.
6 Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling takes hold on my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, are mighty in power?
8 Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God on them.
10 The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
Their bull engenders, and fails not; their cow calves, and casts not her calf.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children skip about [with joy].
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They take the tambourine and 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 go down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
Therefore they say to God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, 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.
See, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is 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 oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft comes their destruction on them! God distributes sorrows in his anger.
18 Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries 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.
God lays up his iniquity for his children: he rewards him, and he shall know it.
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 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 pleasure has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the middle?
22 Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are high.
23 That this one dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure.
26 [And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which you wrongfully imagine 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,
Have you not asked them that go by the way? and do you not know their tokens,
30 That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward to the day of wrath.
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth 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 declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he has done?
32 Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
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.
The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
34 How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
How then comfort you me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
