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 attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
3 Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
Bear with me, that I may speak; And after 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?
Is my complaint concerning man? Why then should I not be angry?
5 Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!
6 Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
8 Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
Their children are 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 in peace, without fear, And the rod of God cometh 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 bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth 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 sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
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 prosperity, And in a moment go down to the under-world. (Sheol h7585)
14 And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
And yet they say unto 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 will 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.
[[Ye say, ]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”
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 it, that the lamp of the wicked is put out? And that destruction cometh upon them, And that He dispenseth to them tribulations in his anger?
18 Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth 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.
“But” [[say ye]] “God layeth up his iniquity for his children.” Let him requite the offender, and let him feel it!
20 His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him 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 concern hath he for his household after him, When the number of his own months is completed?
22 Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
Who then shall impart knowledge to God, —To him that judgeth the highest?
23 That this one dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, Being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 His vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
His sides are full of fat, And his bones moist with marrow.
25 While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
26 [And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms 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 by which ye wrong 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 ye say, “Where is the house of the oppressor, And where the dwelling-places of the wicked?”
29 Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
Have ye never inquired of travellers, And do ye 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 spared in the day of destruction, And that he is borne to his grave in 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 will charge him with his conduct to his face, And who will requite him for the evil he hath done?
32 Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
Even this man is borne with honor to the grave; Yea, he watcheth over his 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.
Sweet to him are the sods of the valley: And all men move after him, As multitudes without number before him.
34 How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
