Job 21
1 But Job answered and said:
But 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 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? and if [it were so], why should not my spirit be troubled?
5 Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!
Mark 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 afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
Why do the wicked live, become old, and, are 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 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 take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment 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!
Therefore they say to 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 to him?
16 [[Ye say, ]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”
Lo, their good [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 the candle of the wicked put out? and [how oft] cometh their destruction upon them? [God] distributeth sorrows in his anger.
18 How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth away?
They are 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 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 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, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
22 Who then shall impart knowledge to God, —To him that judgeth the highest?
Shall [any] teach God knowledge? seeing he 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 breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
26 Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover 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 [are] the dwelling places of the wicked?
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 do ye not know 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 to the day of destruction? they will be brought 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 he shall be brought to the grave, and shall remain in 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 will be sweet to him, and every man will draw after him, as [there are] innumerable before him.
34 Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?
