Job 21
1 Then Job answered and said,
Then Job made answer and said,
2 “Listen carefully to my words, and let this be the comfort you offer to me.
Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.
3 Put up with me, and I also will speak; after I have spoken, mock on.
Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.
4 As for me, is my complaint to a person? Why should I not be impatient?
As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?
5 Look at me and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.
6 When I think about my sufferings, I am terrified, and trembling seizes my body.
At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.
7 Why do wicked people continue to live, become old, and grow mighty in power?
Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
8 Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring are established before their eyes.
Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear; neither is the rod of God on them.
Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.
10 Their bull breeds; it does not fail to do so; their cow gives birth and does not lose her calf prematurely.
Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
11 They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,
12 They sing to the tambourine and harp and rejoice with the music of the flute.
They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
14 They say to God, 'Depart from us for we do not wish any knowledge of your ways.
Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should worship him? What advantage would we get if we prayed to him?'
What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?
16 See, is not their prosperity in their own hands? I have nothing to do with the advice of wicked people.
Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)
17 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?
How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords?
18 How often is it that they become like stubble before the wind or like chaff that the storm carries away?
How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
19 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.
You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it!
20 Let his eyes see his own destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
21 For what does he care about his family after him when the number of his months is cut off?
For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
22 Can anyone teach God knowledge since he judges even those who are high?
Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
23 One man dies in his full strength, being completely quiet and at ease.
One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:
24 His body is full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moist.
His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
25 Another man dies in bitterness of soul, one who has never experienced anything good.
And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
26 They lie down alike in the dust; the worms cover them both.
Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
27 See, I know your thoughts, and the ways in which you wish to wrong me.
See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;
28 For you say, 'Where now is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked man once lived?'
For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
29 Have you never asked traveling people? Do you not know the evidence they can tell,
Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?
30 that the wicked man is kept from the day of calamity, and that he is led away from the day of wrath?
How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?
31 Who will condemn the wicked man's way to his face? Who will repay him for what he has done?
Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?
32 Yet he will be borne to the grave; men will keep watch over his tomb.
He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
33 The clods of the valley will be sweet to him; all people will follow after him, as there were innumerable people before him.
The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.
34 How then do you comfort me with nonsense, since in your answers there is nothing but falsehood?”
Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit?
