Job 21
1 Then Job answered and said,
Then Job answered,
2 “Listen carefully to my words, and let this be the comfort you offer to me.
"Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
3 Put up with me, and I also will speak; after I have spoken, mock on.
Allow me, and I also will speak; After I have spoken, mock on.
4 As for me, is my complaint to a person? Why should I not be impatient?
As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn't I be impatient?
5 Look at 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 about my sufferings, I am terrified, and trembling seizes my body.
When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
7 Why do wicked people continue to live, become old, and grow mighty in power?
"Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring are established before their eyes.
Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear; neither is the rod of God on them.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God 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 bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and do not miscarry.
11 They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
They send forth their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
12 They sing to the tambourine and harp and rejoice with the music of the flute.
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 They say to God, 'Depart from us for we do not wish any knowledge of your ways.
They tell God, 'Depart from us, for we do not want to know about your ways.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should worship him? What advantage would we get if we prayed to him?'
What is Shaddai, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?'
16 See, is not their prosperity in their own hands? I have nothing to do with the advice of wicked people.
Look, 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 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 often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that he distributes sorrows in his anger?
18 How often is it that they become like stubble before the wind or like chaff that the storm carries away?
How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
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 lays up his iniquity for his children.' Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.
20 Let his eyes see his own 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 Shaddai.
21 For what does he care about his family after him when the number of his months is cut off?
For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Can anyone teach God knowledge since he judges even those who are high?
"Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing he judges those who are high?
23 One man dies in his full strength, being completely quiet and at ease.
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His body is full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moist.
His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 Another man dies in bitterness of soul, one who has never experienced anything good.
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
26 They lie down alike in the dust; the worms cover them both.
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
27 See, I know your thoughts, and the ways in which you wish to wrong me.
"Look, I know your thoughts, the devices with which you would wrong 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 prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'
29 Have you never asked traveling people? Do you not know the evidence they can tell,
Haven't you asked wayfaring men? Do you not know their evidences,
30 that the wicked man is kept from the day of calamity, and that he is led away from the day of wrath?
that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, That they are led forth to 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 shall declare his way to his face? Who shall repay him what he has done?
32 Yet he will be borne to the grave; men will keep watch over his tomb.
Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men shall keep watch over the tomb.
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 clods of the valley shall be sweet to him. All men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 How then do you comfort me with nonsense, since in your answers there is nothing but falsehood?”
So how can you comfort me with nonsense, seeing that in your answers there remains only falsehood?"
