Job 21
1 And Job answers and says:
Then answered Job, and said,
2 “Hear my word diligently, And this is your consolation.
Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
3 Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking—you may deride.
Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
4 [Is] my complaint [against] man? And if [so], why may my temper not become short?
As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
5 Turn to me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.
Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Indeed, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh has taken fright.
Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of 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, grow strong in power?
8 Their seed is established, Before their face with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
9 Their houses [are] peace without fear, Nor [is] a rod of God on them.
Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
10 His bullock breeds without fail. His cow brings forth safely, and does not miscarry.
The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
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 skip about [with joy].
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 wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
14 And they say to God, Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Your ways We have not desired.
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
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 shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
16 Behold, their good [is] not in their hand (The counsel of the wicked Has been far from me).
Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] 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 is the lamp of the wicked quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
18 They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a windstorm has stolen away,
Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
19 God lays up for his sons his sorrow, He gives repayment to him—and he knows.
Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
20 His own eyes see his destruction, And he drinks of the wrath of the Mighty.
His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
21 For what [is] his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off?
For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
22 Does [one] teach knowledge to God, Since He judges [those] on high?
Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
23 This [one] dies in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.
That this 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 vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
25 And this [one] dies with a bitter soul, And has not eaten with gladness.
While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
26 Together they lie down on the dust, And the worm covers them over.
[And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
27 Behold, I have known your thoughts, And the schemes against me you do wrongfully.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise 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 noble-minded? and where is the tent of the dwelling-places of the wicked?
29 Have you not asked those passing by the way? And do you not know their signs?
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
30 That the wicked is spared to a day of calamity. They are brought to a day of wrath.
That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward 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 will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
32 And he is brought to the graves, And a watch is kept over the heap.
Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
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.
Sweet are to him the clods of the valley; and after him succeedeth every man, as those that were before him are without number.
34 And how do you comfort me [with] vanity, And trespass has been left in your answers?”
How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
