Job 21
1 But Job answered and said:
Then Job answered and said,
2 Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
“Listen carefully to my words, and let this be the comfort you offer to me.
3 Bear with me, that I may speak; And after I have spoken, mock on!
Put up with me, and I also will speak; 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 person? Why should I not be impatient?
5 Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!
Look at 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.
When I think about my sufferings, I am terrified, and trembling seizes my body.
7 Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
Why do wicked people continue to live, become old, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their children are established in their sight with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring are established 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 on them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Their bull breeds; it does not fail to do so; their cow gives birth and does not lose her calf prematurely.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.
They send out 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 tambourine and harp and rejoice with the music of the flute.
They spend their days in prosperity, and they go down quietly to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us! We desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
They say to God, 'Depart from us for we do not wish any knowledge of your 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 worship him? What advantage would we get if we prayed to him?'
16 [[Ye say, ]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”
See, is not their prosperity in their own hands? I have nothing to do with the advice of wicked people.
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 it that the lamp of wicked people is put out, or that their calamity comes upon them? How often does it happen that God distributes sorrows to them in his anger?
18 How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth away?
How often is it that they become like stubble before the wind or like chaff that the storm carries away?
19 “But” [[say ye]] “God layeth up his iniquity for his children.” Let him requite the offender, and let him feel it!
You say, 'God lays up one's guilt for his children to pay.' Let him pay it himself, so that he might know his guilt.
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty!
Let his eyes see his own 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 does he care about his family 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 anyone teach God knowledge since he judges even those who are high?
23 One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, Being wholly at ease and quiet;
One man dies in his full strength, being completely quiet and at ease.
24 His sides are full of fat, And his bones moist with marrow.
His body is full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moist.
25 Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
Another man dies in bitterness of soul, one who has never experienced anything good.
26 Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.
They lie down alike in the dust; the worms cover them both.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices by which ye wrong me.
See, I know your thoughts, and the ways in which you wish to wrong me.
28 For ye say, “Where is the house of the oppressor, And where the dwelling-places of the wicked?”
For you say, 'Where now is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked man once lived?'
29 Have ye never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know their tokens,
Have you never asked traveling people? Do you not know the evidence they can tell,
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 man is kept from the day of calamity, and that he is led away from 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 will condemn the wicked man's way to his face? Who will repay him for what he has done?
32 Even this man is borne with honor to the grave; Yea, he watcheth over his tomb.
Yet he will be borne to the grave; men will keep watch 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 will be sweet to him; all people will follow after him, as there were innumerable people before him.
34 Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
How then do you comfort me with nonsense, since in your answers there is nothing but falsehood?”
