Job 21
1 Then answered Job, and said,
Then Job answered,
2 Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
“Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
3 Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
Allow me, and I also will speak. 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?
As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?
5 Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
6 Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
“Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
Their child is established with them in their sight, 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 upon them.
10 The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t 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 a flock. Their children dance.
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They sing to the tambourine 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. In an instant they go down to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about 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? 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.
Behold, their prosperity 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 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 Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, 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.
You say, ‘God lays up his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know 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. 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 does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
“Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who 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 pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
26 [And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
“Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would 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 you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
29 Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
Haven’t you asked wayfaring men? Don’t you know their evidences,
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 evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led out 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 will declare his way to his face? Who will 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 he will be borne to the grave. Men will keep watch over 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 will be sweet to him. All men will draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”
