Job 21
1 And Job answers and says:
But Job answered and said:
2 “Hear my word diligently, And this is your consolation.
Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
3 Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking—you may deride.
Bear with me, that I may speak; And after I have spoken, mock on!
4 [Is] my complaint [against] man? And if [so], why may my temper not become short?
Is my complaint concerning man? Why then should I not be angry?
5 Turn to me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.
Look upon 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.
When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 Why do the wicked live? They have become old, Indeed, they have been mighty in wealth.
Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
8 Their seed is established, Before their face with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
Their children are 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 in peace, without fear, And the rod of God cometh not 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 in a moment go down to the under-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! 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?
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what will it profit 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).
[[Ye say, ]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”
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 it, that the lamp of the wicked is put out? And that destruction cometh upon them, And that He dispenseth to them tribulations in his anger?
18 They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a windstorm has stolen away,
How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth away?
19 God lays up for his sons his sorrow, He gives repayment to him—and he knows.
“But” [[say ye]] “God layeth up his iniquity for his children.” Let him requite the offender, and let him feel 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 concern hath he for his household after him, When the number of his own months is completed?
22 Does [one] teach knowledge to God, Since He judges [those] on high?
Who then shall impart knowledge to God, —To him that judgeth the highest?
23 This [one] dies in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.
One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, Being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow moistens his bones.
His sides are full of fat, And his bones moist with marrow.
25 And this [one] dies with a bitter soul, And has not eaten with gladness.
Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
26 Together they lie down on the dust, And the worm covers them over.
Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.
27 Behold, I have known your thoughts, And the schemes against me you do wrongfully.
Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices by which ye wrong 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 oppressor, And where 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 never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know their tokens,
30 That the wicked is spared to a day of calamity. They are brought to a day of wrath.
That the wicked is spared in the day of destruction, And that he is borne to his grave 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 charge him with his conduct to his face, And who will requite him for the evil he hath done?
32 And he is brought to the graves, And a watch is kept over the heap.
Even this man is borne with honor to the grave; Yea, he watcheth 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.
Sweet to him are the sods of the valley: And all men move after him, As multitudes without number before him.
34 And how do you comfort me [with] vanity, And trespass has been left in your answers?”
Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
