Job 21
1 And Job answers and says:
And Job answereth and saith: —
2 “Hear my word diligently, And this is your consolation.
Hear ye diligently my word, And this is your consolation.
3 Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking—you may deride.
Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking — ye may deride.
4 [Is] my complaint [against] man? And if [so], why may my temper not become short?
I — to man [is] my complaint? and if [so], wherefore May not my temper become short?
5 Turn to me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.
Turn unto me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.
6 Indeed, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh has taken fright.
Yea, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh hath taken fright.
7 Why do the wicked live? They have become old, Indeed, they have been mighty in wealth.
Wherefore do the wicked live? They have become old, Yea, they have been mighty in wealth.
8 Their seed is established, Before their face with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
Their seed is established, Before their face 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] peace without fear, Nor [is] a rod of God upon them.
10 His bullock breeds without fail. His cow brings forth safely, and does not miscarry.
His bullock hath eaten corn, and doth not loath. His cow bringeth forth safely, And doth not miscarry.
11 They send forth their sucklings as a flock, And their children skip,
They send forth as a flock their sucklings, And their children skip,
12 They lift [themselves] up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of a pipe.
They lift [themselves] up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of an organ.
They wear out in good their days, And in a moment [to] Sheol go down. (Sheol h7585)
14 And they say to God, Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Your ways We have not desired.
And they say to God, 'Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Thy ways We have not desired.
15 What [is] the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?
What [is] the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?'
16 Behold, their good [is] not in their hand (The counsel of the wicked Has been far from me).
Lo, not in their hand [is] their good, (The counsel of the wicked Hath been 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 the lamp of the wicked extinguished, And come on them doth their calamity? Pangs He apportioneth in His anger.
18 They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a windstorm has stolen away,
They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a hurricane hath stolen away,
19 God lays up for his sons his sorrow, He gives repayment to him—and he knows.
God layeth up for his sons his sorrow, He giveth recompense unto him — and he knoweth.
20 His own eyes see his destruction, And he drinks of the wrath of the Mighty.
His own eyes see his destruction, And of the wrath of the Mighty he drinketh.
21 For what [is] his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off?
For what [is] his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off?
22 Does [one] teach knowledge to God, Since He judges [those] on high?
To God doth [one] teach knowledge, And He the high doth judge?
23 This [one] dies in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.
This [one] dieth in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow moistens his bones.
His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow his bones doth moisten.
25 And this [one] dies with a bitter soul, And has not eaten with gladness.
And this [one] dieth with a bitter soul, And have not eaten with gladness.
26 Together they lie down on the dust, And the worm covers them over.
Together — on the dust they lie down, And the worm doth cover them over.
27 Behold, I have known your thoughts, And the schemes against me you do wrongfully.
Lo, I have known your thoughts, And the devices against me ye do wrongfully.
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? And where the tent — The tabernacles of the wicked?'
29 Have you not asked those passing by the way? And do you not know their signs?
Have ye not asked those passing by the way? And their signs do ye not know?
30 That the wicked is spared to a day of calamity. They are brought to a day of wrath.
That to a day of calamity is the wicked spared. To a day of wrath they are brought.
31 Who declares his way to his face? And [for] that which he has done, Who gives repayment to him?
Who doth declare to his face his way? And [for] that which he hath done, Who doth give recompence to him?
32 And he is brought to the graves, And a watch is kept over the heap.
And he — to the graves he is brought. And over the heap a watch is kept.
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 have been the clods of the valley, And after him every man he draweth, And before him there is no numbering.
34 And how do you comfort me [with] vanity, And trespass has been left in your answers?”
And how do ye comfort me [with] vanity, And in your answers hath been left trespass?
