Job 21
1 And Job answers and says:
Then Job responded by saying:
2 “Hear my word diligently, And this is your consolation.
I beseech you to hear my words and to do penance.
3 Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking—you may deride.
Permit me, and I will speak, and afterwards, if you see fit, you can laugh at my words.
4 [Is] my complaint [against] man? And if [so], why may my temper not become short?
Is my dispute against man, so that I would have no reason to be discouraged?
5 Turn to me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.
Listen to me and be astonished, and place a finger over your mouth.
6 Indeed, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh has taken fright.
As for me, when I think it over, I am afraid, and trembling convulses my body.
7 Why do the wicked live? They have become old, Indeed, they have been mighty in wealth.
Why then do the impious live, having been lifted up and strengthened with riches?
8 Their seed is established, Before their face with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
They see their offspring continue before them: a commotion of close relatives and of children’s children in their sight.
9 Their houses [are] peace without fear, Nor [is] a rod of God on them.
Their houses have been secure and peaceable, and there is no staff of God over them.
10 His bullock breeds without fail. His cow brings forth safely, and does not miscarry.
Their cattle have conceived and have not miscarried; their cow has given birth and is not deprived of her newborn.
11 They send forth their sucklings as a flock, And their children skip,
Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children jump around playfully.
12 They lift [themselves] up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of a pipe.
They take up the timbrel and the lyre, and they rejoice at the sound of the organ.
Their days are prolonged in wealth, yet, in an instant, they descend into hell. (Sheol h7585)
14 And they say to God, Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Your ways We have not desired.
Who has said to God, “Depart from us, for we do not want 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?
Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? And how is it helpful to us if we pray to him?”
16 Behold, their good [is] not in their hand (The counsel of the wicked Has been far from me).
It is true that their good things are not in their power. May the counsel of the impious be 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 often will the lamp of the wicked be extinguished, and a deluge overtake them, and how often will he distribute the afflictions of his wrath?
18 They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a windstorm has stolen away,
They will be like chaff before the face of the wind, and like ashes that the whirlwind scatters.
19 God lays up for his sons his sorrow, He gives repayment to him—and he knows.
God will preserve the grief of the father for his sons, and, when he repays, then he will understand.
20 His own eyes see his destruction, And he drinks of the wrath of the Mighty.
His eyes will see his own destruction, and he will drink from the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what [is] his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off?
For what does he care what happens to his house after him, or if the number of its months are reduced by half?
22 Does [one] teach knowledge to God, Since He judges [those] on high?
Can anyone teach holy knowledge to God, who judges the exalted?
23 This [one] dies in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.
This one dies strong and healthy, rich and happy.
24 His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow moistens his bones.
His gut is full of fat and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 And this [one] dies with a bitter soul, And has not eaten with gladness.
In truth, another dies in bitterness of soul, without any resources.
26 Together they lie down on the dust, And the worm covers them over.
And yet they will sleep together in the dust, and worms will cover them.
27 Behold, I have known your thoughts, And the schemes against me you do wrongfully.
Surely, I know your thoughts and your sinful judgments 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 are the tabernacles of the impious?”
29 Have you not asked those passing by the way? And do you not know their signs?
Ask any passerby whom you wish, and you will realize that he understands these same things:
30 That the wicked is spared to a day of calamity. They are brought to a day of wrath.
that the evil-doer is reserved for the day of destruction, and he will be led to 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 reprove his way to his face, and who will repay him for what he has done?
32 And he is brought to the graves, And a watch is kept over the heap.
He will be led to the tomb, and he will remain awake in the chaos of the dead.
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.
He has been found acceptable to the banks of the River of Lamentation, and he will draw any man towards him, and there are countless before him.
34 And how do you comfort me [with] vanity, And trespass has been left in your answers?”
Therefore, how long will you console me in vain, when your answer is shown to be repugnant to truth?
