Job 21
1 And Job answers and says:
Job replied,
2 “Hear my word diligently, And this is your consolation.
“Please listen carefully to what I say—that would be one comfort you could give me.
3 Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking—you may deride.
Bear with me; let me speak. After I've spoken you can resume mocking me.
4 [Is] my complaint [against] man? And if [so], why may my temper not become short?
Am I complaining against people? Of course not. Why shouldn't I be impatient?
5 Turn to me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.
Just take a look at me. Aren't you appalled? Cover your mouth with your hand in shock!
6 Indeed, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh has taken fright.
Every time I think of what's happened to me I am horrified and I shake all over with fear.
7 Why do the wicked live? They have become old, Indeed, they have been mighty in wealth.
Why do the wicked continue to live, to grow old and increasingly powerful?
8 Their seed is established, Before their face with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
Their children are with them; they watch their grandchildren grow up.
9 Their houses [are] peace without fear, Nor [is] a rod of God on them.
They live in their homes in safety—they are not afraid. God does not use his rod to beat them.
10 His bullock breeds without fail. His cow brings forth safely, and does not miscarry.
Their bulls always breed successfully; their cows give birth to calves and do not miscarry.
11 They send forth their sucklings as a flock, And their children skip,
They send out their little ones like lambs to play; their children dance around.
12 They lift [themselves] up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of a pipe.
They sing accompanied by the tambourine and lyre; they celebrate with the music of the flute.
They live out their lives contentedly, and go down to Sheol in peace. (Sheol h7585)
14 And they say to God, Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Your ways We have not desired.
Yet they tell God, ‘Get lost! We don't want anything to do with you.
15 What [is] the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?
Who does the Almighty think he is for us to serve him as slaves? What benefit is there for 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).
Such people believe they make their own fortune, but I don't accept their way of thinking.
17 How often is the lamp of the wicked extinguished, And their calamity comes on them? He apportions pangs in His anger.
How often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does disaster come upon them? How often does God punish the wicked in his anger?
18 They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a windstorm has stolen away,
Are they blown along like straw in the wind? Does a tornado come in and carry them away?
19 God lays up for his sons his sorrow, He gives repayment to him—and he knows.
Some say, ‘God saves up people's punishment for their children.’ But I say, ‘God should punish those people themselves so that they can learn from it.’
20 His own eyes see his destruction, And he drinks of the wrath of the Mighty.
Let them see their destruction themselves, and drink deeply from God's anger.
21 For what [is] his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off?
For they don't care what happens to their families once they're dead.
22 Does [one] teach knowledge to God, Since He judges [those] on high?
Can anyone teach God anything he doesn't already know, since he is the one who judges even heavenly beings?
23 This [one] dies in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.
One person dies in good health, totally comfortable and secure.
24 His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow moistens his bones.
Their body is fat from eating well; their bones still strong.
25 And this [one] dies with a bitter soul, And has not eaten with gladness.
Another dies after a miserable life without every experiencing happiness.
26 Together they lie down on the dust, And the worm covers them over.
Yet they are both buried in the same dust; they are treated alike in death, eaten by maggots.
27 Behold, I have known your thoughts, And the schemes against me you do wrongfully.
Look, I know what you're thinking, and your schemes to do me wrong.
28 For you say, Where [is] the house of the noble? And where the tent—the dwelling places of the wicked?
You may ask me, ‘Where is the home of the great man? Where is the place where the wicked live?’
29 Have you not asked those passing by the way? And do you not know their signs?
Haven't you asked people who travel? Don't you pay attention to what they tell you?
30 That the wicked is spared to a day of calamity. They are brought to a day of wrath.
Wicked people are spared in times of disaster; they are rescued from the day of judgment.
31 Who declares his way to his face? And [for] that which he has done, Who gives repayment to him?
Who confronts them with their actions? Who pays them back for what they have done?
32 And he is brought to the graves, And a watch is kept over the heap.
When they eventually die and are carried to the graveyard, their tomb is guarded. The earth of the grave softly covers them.
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.
Everyone attends their funeral service; a huge procession of people comes to pay their last respects.
34 And how do you comfort me [with] vanity, And trespass has been left in your answers?”
Why do you try to comfort me with worthless nonsense? Your answers are just a pack of lies!”
