Job 21
1 But Job answered and said:
Then Job answered,
2 Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
“Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
3 Bear with me, that I may speak; And after I have spoken, mock on!
Allow 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 man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?
5 Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!
Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
6 When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
7 Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
“Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their children are established in their sight with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
Their child is established with them in their sight, 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 bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.
They send out their little ones like a flock. 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 at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us! We desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about 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 serve him? 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!”
Behold, 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 often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows 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 are as stubble before the wind, as 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 his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to 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. 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 for 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?
“Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?
23 One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, Being wholly at ease and quiet;
One dies 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. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
26 Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices by which ye wrong me.
“Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would 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 is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
29 Have ye never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know their tokens,
Haven’t you asked wayfaring men? Don’t you know their evidences,
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 out 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 will declare his way to his face? Who will repay him 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 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. All men will draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”
