Job 21
1 But Job answered and said:
Then Job answered and said:
2 Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
3 Bear with me, that I may speak; And after I have spoken, mock on!
Suffer me, that I may speak; and after that 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 man? Or why should I not be impatient?
5 Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!
Turn unto me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
Even when I remember I am affrighted, and horror hath taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
8 Their children are established in their sight with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
Their seed is established in their sight with them, 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, without 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 sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, and peacefully they go down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us! We desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
Yet they said 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 profit should we have, 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!”
Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand; the counsel of the wicked is 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 oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? that their calamity cometh upon them? that He distributeth pains in His anger?
18 How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth away?
That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm stealeth 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 his iniquity for his children!' — let Him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty!
Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath 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 hath he in his house after him? seeing the number of his months is determined.
22 Who then shall impart knowledge to God, —To him that judgeth the highest?
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing it is He 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 pails are full of milk, 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 never tasted of good.
26 Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.
They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices by which ye wrong me.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which 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 prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?'
29 Have ye never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know their tokens,
Have ye not asked them that go by the way; and will ye misdeem 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 evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that 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?
But 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.
For he is borne to the grave, and watch is kept over his 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 all men draw 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? And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness?
