Job 21
1 Then Job answered and said,
But Job answered and said,
2 “Listen carefully to my words, and let this be the comfort you offer to me.
Hear you, hear you my words, that I may not have this consolation from you.
3 Put up with me, and I also will speak; after I have spoken, mock on.
Raise me, and I will speak; then you shall not laugh me to scorn.
4 As for me, is my complaint to a person? Why should I not be impatient?
What! is my reproof of man? and why should I not be angry?
5 Look at me and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Look upon me, and wonder, laying your hand upon your cheek.
6 When I think about my sufferings, I am terrified, and trembling seizes my body.
For even when I remember, I am alarmed, and pains seize my flesh.
7 Why do wicked people continue to live, become old, and grow mighty in power?
Therefore do the ungodly live, and grow old even in wealth?
8 Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring are established before their eyes.
Their seed is according to [their] desire, and their children are in [their] sight.
9 Their houses are safe from fear; neither is the rod of God on them.
Their houses are prosperous, neither [have they] any where [cause for] fear, neither is there a scourge from the Lord upon them.
10 Their bull breeds; it does not fail to do so; their cow gives birth and does not lose her calf prematurely.
Their cow does not cast her calf, and their [beast] with young is safe, and does not miscarry.
11 They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
And they remain as an unfailing flock, and their children play before [them], taking up the lute and harp;
12 They sing to the tambourine and harp and rejoice with the music of the flute.
and they rejoice at the voice of a song.
And they spend their days in wealth, and fall asleep in the rest of the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 They say to God, 'Depart from us for we do not wish any knowledge of your ways.
Yet [such a man] says to the Lord, Depart from me; I desire not to know 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 Mighty One, that we should serve him? and what profit is there that we should approach him?
16 See, is not their prosperity in their own hands? I have nothing to do with the advice of wicked people.
For their good things were in [their] hands, but he regards not the works of the ungodly.
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?
Nevertheless, the lamp of the ungodly also shall be put out, and destruction shall come upon them, and pangs of vengeance shall seize them.
18 How often is it that they become like stubble before the wind or like chaff that the storm carries away?
And they shall be as chaff before the wind, or as dust which the storm has taken up.
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.
Let his substance fail [to supply] his children: [God] shall recompense him, and he shall know it.
20 Let his eyes see his own destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Let his eyes see his own destruction, and let him not be saved by the Lord.
21 For what does he care about his family after him when the number of his months is cut off?
For his desire is in his house with him, and the number of his months has been suddenly cut off.
22 Can anyone teach God knowledge since he judges even those who are high?
Is it not the Lord who teaches understanding and knowledge? and does not he judge murders?
23 One man dies in his full strength, being completely quiet and at ease.
One shall die in his perfect strength, and wholly at ease and prosperous;
24 His body is full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moist.
and his inwards are full of fat, and his marrow is diffused [throughout him].
25 Another man dies in bitterness of soul, one who has never experienced anything good.
And another dies in bitterness of soul, not eating any good thing.
26 They lie down alike in the dust; the worms cover them both.
But they lie down in the earth together, and corruption covers them.
27 See, I know your thoughts, and the ways in which you wish to wrong me.
So I know you, that you presumptuously attack me:
28 For you say, 'Where now is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked man once lived?'
so that you will say, Where is the house of the prince? and where is the covering of the tabernacles of the ungodly?
29 Have you never asked traveling people? Do you not know the evidence they can tell,
Ask those that go by the way, and do not disown their tokens.
30 that the wicked man is kept from the day of calamity, and that he is led away from the day of wrath?
For the wicked hastens to the day of destruction: they shall be led away for the day of his vengeance.
31 Who will condemn the wicked man's way to his face? Who will repay him for what he has done?
Who will tell him his way to his face, whereas he has done [it]? who shall recompense him?
32 Yet he will be borne to the grave; men will keep watch over his tomb.
And he has been led away to the tombs, and he has watched over the heaps.
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 stones of the valley have been sweet to him, and every man shall depart after him, and [there are] innumerable [ones] before him.
34 How then do you comfort me with nonsense, since in your answers there is nothing but falsehood?”
How then do you comfort me in vain? whereas I have no rest from your molestation.
