Job 21
1 But Job answered and said:
Then answered Job, and said,
2 Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
3 Bear with me, that I may speak; And after I have spoken, mock on!
Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
4 Is my complaint concerning man? Why then should I not be angry?
As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
5 Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!
Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of 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, grow strong in power?
8 Their children are established in their sight with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
9 Their houses are in peace, without fear, And the rod of God cometh not upon them.
Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
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 skip about [with joy].
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 wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
14 And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us! We desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
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 shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
16 [[Ye say, ]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”
Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] 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 quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
18 How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth away?
Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
19 “But” [[say ye]] “God layeth up his iniquity for his children.” Let him requite the offender, and let him feel it!
Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty!
His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
21 For what concern hath he for his household after him, When the number of his own months is completed?
For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
22 Who then shall impart knowledge to God, —To him that judgeth the highest?
Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
23 One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, Being wholly at ease and quiet;
That this 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 vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
25 Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
26 Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.
[And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices by which ye wrong me.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise 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-minded? and where is the tent of the dwelling-places of the wicked?
29 Have ye never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know their tokens,
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
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 bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward 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 will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
32 Even this man is borne with honor to the grave; Yea, he watcheth over his tomb.
Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
33 Sweet to him are the sods of the valley: And all men move after him, As multitudes without number before him.
Sweet are to him the clods of the valley; and after him succeedeth every man, as those that were before him are without number.
34 Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
