Job 21
1 And Job answers and says:
Then Job answered and said:
2 “Hear my word diligently, And this is your consolation.
Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
3 Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking—you may deride.
Suffer me, that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4 [Is] my complaint [against] man? And if [so], why may my temper not become short?
As for me, is my complaint to man? Or why should I not be impatient?
5 Turn to me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.
Turn unto me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Indeed, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh has taken fright.
Even when I remember I am affrighted, and horror hath taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Why do the wicked live? They have become old, Indeed, they have been mighty in wealth.
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
8 Their seed is established, Before their face with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
Their seed is established in their sight 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 safe, without fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 His bullock breeds without fail. His cow brings forth safely, and does not miscarry.
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 They send forth their sucklings as a flock, And their children skip,
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 They lift [themselves] up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of a pipe.
They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, and peacefully they go down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 And they say to God, Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Your ways We have not desired.
Yet they said unto God: 'Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways.
15 What [is] the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?
What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?' —
16 Behold, their good [is] not in their hand (The counsel of the wicked Has been far from me).
Lo, 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 extinguished, And their calamity comes on them? He apportions pangs in His anger.
How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? that their calamity cometh upon them? that He distributeth pains in His anger?
18 They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a windstorm has stolen away,
That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm stealeth away?
19 God lays up for his sons his sorrow, He gives repayment to him—and he knows.
'God layeth up his iniquity for his children!' — let Him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.
20 His own eyes see his destruction, And he drinks of the wrath of the Mighty.
Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of 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 pleasure hath he in his house after him? seeing the number of his months is determined.
22 Does [one] teach knowledge to God, Since He judges [those] on high?
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing it is He that judgeth those that are high.
23 This [one] dies in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.
One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow moistens his bones.
His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 And this [one] dies with a bitter soul, And has not eaten with gladness.
And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted of good.
26 Together they lie down on the dust, And the worm covers them over.
They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
27 Behold, I have known your thoughts, And the schemes against me you do wrongfully.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28 For you say, Where [is] the house of the noble? And where the tent—the dwelling places of the wicked?
For ye say: 'Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?'
29 Have you not asked those passing by the way? And do you not know their signs?
Have ye not asked them that go by the way; and will ye misdeem their tokens,
30 That the wicked is spared to a day of calamity. They are brought to a day of wrath.
That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led forth 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?
But who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 And he is brought to the graves, And a watch is kept over the heap.
For he is borne to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.
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 clods of the valley are sweet unto him, and all men draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 And how do you comfort me [with] vanity, And trespass has been left in your answers?”
How then comfort ye me in vain? And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness?
