Job 21
1 Then Job answered,
Then Job made answer and said,
2 "Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.
3 Allow me, and I also will speak; After I have spoken, mock on.
Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn't I be impatient?
As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?
5 Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.
6 When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.
7 "Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
8 Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.
Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.
10 Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and do not miscarry.
Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,
12 They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
14 They tell God, 'Depart from us, for we do not want to know about your ways.
Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.
15 What is Shaddai, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?'
What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?
16 Look, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)
17 "How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that he distributes sorrows in his anger?
How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords?
18 How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
19 You say, 'God lays up his iniquity for his children.' Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.
You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it!
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of Shaddai.
Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
21 For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
22 "Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing he judges those who are high?
Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
23 One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:
24 His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
26 They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
27 "Look, I know your thoughts, the devices with which you would wrong me.
See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;
28 For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'
For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
29 Haven't you asked wayfaring men? Do you not know their evidences,
Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?
30 that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, That they are led forth to the day of wrath?
How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? Who shall repay him what he has done?
Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?
32 Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men shall keep watch over the tomb.
He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him. All men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.
34 So how can you comfort me with nonsense, seeing that in your answers there remains only falsehood?"
Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit?
