Job 21
1 And Job answers and says:
Then Job made answer and said,
2 “Hear my word diligently, And this is your consolation.
Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.
3 Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking—you may deride.
Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.
4 [Is] my complaint [against] man? And if [so], why may my temper not become short?
As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?
5 Turn to me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.
Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.
6 Indeed, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh has taken fright.
At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.
7 Why do the wicked live? They have become old, Indeed, they have been mighty in wealth.
Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
8 Their seed is established, Before their face with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses [are] peace without fear, Nor [is] a rod of God on them.
Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.
10 His bullock breeds without fail. His cow brings forth safely, and does not miscarry.
Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
11 They send forth their sucklings as a flock, And their children skip,
They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,
12 They lift [themselves] up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of a pipe.
They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
14 And they say to God, Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Your ways We have not desired.
Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.
15 What [is] the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?
What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?
16 Behold, their good [is] not in their hand (The counsel of the wicked Has been far from me).
Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)
17 How often is the lamp of the wicked extinguished, And their calamity comes on them? He apportions pangs in His anger.
How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords?
18 They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a windstorm has stolen away,
How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
19 God lays up for his sons his sorrow, He gives repayment to him—and he knows.
You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it!
20 His own eyes see his destruction, And he drinks of the wrath of the Mighty.
Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
21 For what [is] his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off?
For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
22 Does [one] teach knowledge to God, Since He judges [those] on high?
Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
23 This [one] dies in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.
One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:
24 His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow moistens his bones.
His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
25 And this [one] dies with a bitter soul, And has not eaten with gladness.
And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
26 Together they lie down on the dust, And the worm covers them over.
Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
27 Behold, I have known your thoughts, And the schemes against me you do wrongfully.
See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;
28 For you say, Where [is] the house of the noble? And where the tent—the dwelling places of the wicked?
For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
29 Have you not asked those passing by the way? And do you not know their signs?
Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?
30 That the wicked is spared to a day of calamity. They are brought to a day of wrath.
How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?
31 Who declares his way to his face? And [for] that which he has done, Who gives repayment to him?
Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?
32 And he is brought to the graves, And a watch is kept over the heap.
He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
33 The clods of the valley have been sweet to him, And he draws every man after him, And there is no numbering before him.
The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.
34 And how do you comfort me [with] vanity, And trespass has been left in your answers?”
Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit?
