Job 21
1 But Job answered and said:
And Job answered and said,
2 Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations.
3 Bear with me, that I may speak; And after I have spoken, mock on!
Suffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on!
4 Is my complaint concerning man? Why then should I not be angry?
As for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient?
5 Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay the hand upon the mouth.
6 When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
Even when I think [thereon], I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power?
8 Their children are established in their sight with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are in peace, without fear, And the rod of God cometh not upon them.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment go down to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us! We desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
And they say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what will it profit us, if we pray to him?”
What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?
16 [[Ye say, ]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”
Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked be far from me!
17 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?
How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and cometh their calamity upon them? Doth he distribute sorrows [to them] in his anger?
18 How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth away?
Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
19 “But” [[say ye]] “God layeth up his iniquity for his children.” Let him requite the offender, and let him feel it!
God layeth up [the punishment of] his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it]:
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty!
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the fury of the Almighty.
21 For what concern hath he for his household after him, When the number of his own months is completed?
For what pleasure should he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Who then shall impart knowledge to God, —To him that judgeth the highest?
Can any teach God knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.
23 One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, Being wholly at ease and quiet;
One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 His sides are full of fat, And his bones moist with marrow.
His sides are full of fat, and the marrow of his bones is moistened;
25 Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good:
26 Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.
Together they lie down in the dust, and the worms cover them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices by which ye wrong me.
Lo, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28 For ye say, “Where is the house of the oppressor, And where the dwelling-places of the wicked?”
For ye say, Where is the house of the noble? and where the tent of the dwellings of the wicked?
29 Have ye never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know their tokens,
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? and do ye not regard their tokens:
30 That the wicked is spared in the day of destruction, And that he is borne to his grave in the day of wrath?
That the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to the day of wrath.
31 Who will charge him with his conduct to his face, And who will requite him for the evil he hath done?
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 Even this man is borne with honor to the grave; Yea, he watcheth over his tomb.
Yet is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb.
33 Sweet to him are the sods of the valley: And all men move after him, As multitudes without number before him.
The clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
How then comfort ye me in vain? Your answers remain perfidious.
