Job 21
1 Darauf erwidert Job und spricht:
Then Job replied,
2 "Mögt ihr auf meine Rede nochmals hören, und wär's zu eurem Zeitvertreib!
“Listen to what I say, all [three] of you; that is the only thing that you can do that will comfort me.
3 Ertragt mich! Laßt mich, reden! Dann scheltet nur, wenn ich geredet!
Be patient with me, and allow me to speak. Then, after I am finished speaking, you can continue to make fun of me.
4 Erhebe ich denn gegen einen Menschen Klage? Oder - warum soll ich nicht ungeduldig werden dürfen?
“It is certainly not [RHQ] people against whom I am complaining, [but God] And it is certainly [RHQ] right for me to be impatient!
5 Zu mir kehrt euch, erstarret! Die Hand legt auf den Mund!
Look at me! Does what you see not cause you to be appalled and to put your hands over your mouths [and say no more]?
6 Ich werde ganz erschüttert, denke ich daran; an Leib und Seele zittere ich.
When I think about [what has happened to me], I am frightened and my entire body shakes.
7 Wie kommt's, daß Frevler leben dürfen und alternd noch an Kräften wachsen?
“[But let me ask this: ] ‘Why do wicked people continue to live, and become prosperous, and not die until they are very old?’
8 Bei ihnen bleibt ihr Stamm, und er gedeiht, solang sie leben, und stets vor Augen bleiben ihnen ihre Sprößlinge.
They have their children around them, and they watch them while they [grow up and] start to live in their own houses, and they enjoy their grandchildren.
9 Und sicher vor Gefahr sind ihre Häuser; die Gottesrute trifft sie nicht.
Wicked people live in their own houses without being afraid, and God does not punish [MTY] them.
10 Sein Stier bespringt und läßt es nicht entgleiten, und seine Kuh kalbt leicht und tut nicht eine Fehlgeburt.-
Their bulls always mate with the cows successfully, and the cows give birth to calves and never miscarry.
11 Gleich einer Herde lassen sie die Kinderschar hinaus, und munter hüpfen ihre Jungen.
Wicked people send their young children outside [to play], and the children play [happily] like [SIM] lambs [in a pasture].
12 Sie spielen froh zu Pauken und zu Zithern und freuen sich beim Flötenschalle.
Some children dance and sing, while others shake tambourines and play lyres, and they are happy when they hear people playing flutes.
Wicked people enjoy having good things all the time that they are alive, and they die quietly/peacefully and go down to the place of the dead. (Sheol h7585)
14 und sagen doch zu Gott: 'Du bleib uns fern!' 'Wir wollen nichts von Deinen Wegen wissen!'
While they are alive, they say to God, ‘Do not bother us; we do not want to know how you want us to conduct our lives!
15 'Was soll es, daß wir dem Allmächtigen dienen? Was nützt es uns, ihn bittend anzugehen?'
Why do you, Almighty God, think that we should serve you? (What advantage do we get if we pray to you?/It is useless for us to pray to you.) [RHQ]’
16 Nun, läge nicht ihr Glück in ihrer Hand, dann wäre mir das Planen dieser Frevler unbegreiflich.
Think about it: Wicked people think that it is because of what they have done that they have become prosperous, but I do not understand why they think like that.
17 Wie oft erlischt der Frevler Leuchte und überfällt sie ihr Verderben? Wie oft teilt er in seinem Zorne Schmerzen aus? -
(“How often does it happen that wicked people die [MET] before they are old?/Very seldom do wicked people die [MET] before they are old.) [RHQ] (Do they ever experience disasters?/They seldom experience disasters.) [RHQ] (Does God ever punish them because of being very angry with them?/God never punishes them because of being very angry with them.) [RHQ]
18 Sie sollen werden wie das Stroh vorm Winde, wie Spreu, vom Sturm entführt!
[He does not blow] them away like wind blows away straw; they are never carried off by a whirlwind.
19 'Gott hat sein Unheil eben dessen Kindern aufgespart.' Er zahle ihm es heim, daß er es selber fühle!
You say, ‘When people have committed sins, God waits and punishes their children because of those sins;’ but [I say that] God should punish those who sin, [not their children, ] in order that the sinners will know [that it is because of their own sins that they are being punished].
20 Er selber sollte seinen Becher kosten und von dem Grimm des Höchsten trinken müssen!
I hope/wish that wicked people will experience themselves being destroyed, that they will experience being punished by an angry Almighty God.
21 Was braucht ihn denn zu kümmern, wie's seinem Haus nach seinem Tode geht, wenn seiner Monde Zahl zu Ende ist?
After wicked people are dead, they are not at all concerned [RHQ] about what happens to their families [MTY].
22 Kann man denn Gott das Wissen lehren, da er doch von der Höhe aus verfügt?
“Since God judges [everyone, ] even those that are in heaven, (who can teach God anything?/certainly no one can teach God anything.) [RHQ]
23 Der eine stirbt in vollem Glücke, ganz ruhig, wohlgemut.
Some people die while they are very healthy, while they are peaceful, when they are not afraid of anything.
24 Von Fett sind seine Lenden voll; sein Körper wird mit Mark getränkt.
Their bodies are fat; their bones are strong.
25 Der andre stirbt verzweiflungsvoll, hat niemals von dem Glück gekostet.
Other people die being very miserable; they have never experienced good things happening to them.
26 Zusammen liegen sie im Staube; Gewürm deckt beide zu.
But both rich and poor people die and are buried, and maggots eat their bodies. [Everyone dies, so it is clear that dying is not always the punishment for being wicked].
27 Ich kenne eure Meinung wohl; ihr ziehet an den Haaren Gründe gegen mich herbei.
“Listen, I know what you [three] are thinking. I know the evil things that you plan to do to me.
28 Ihr sagt: 'In welcher Lage ist das Haus des edlen Mannes?' 'In welcher ist das Wohngezelt der Frevler?'
You say, ‘What happened to the tents in which wicked people were living? The houses of evil rulers have been destroyed!’
29 Befragt ihr nicht die Leute, die auf den Lauf der Welten achten? Und ihre Zeugnisse könnt ihr nicht ablehnen.
But have you never inquired of people who travel much? Do you not believe their reports about what they have seen,
30 Der Frevler bleibt vom Unheilstag verschont, vom Tag, wo Steuern eingetrieben werden.
that wicked people usually do not suffer at the time when there are great disasters; that wicked people are the ones who are rescued when God is angry [and punishes people] [MTY]?
31 Wer hält ihm seinen Wandel vor, und wer vergilt ihm, was er tat?
There is no one [RHQ] who accuses wicked people, and there is no one who (pays them back/gives them the punishment that they deserve) for all the evil things that they have done.
32 Er wird zu Grab getragen, und auf dem Grabespolster ruht er ungestört.
The corpses of wicked people are carried to their graves, and people are put there to guard those graves.
33 Des Grabes Schollen sind ihm süß. So lockt er alle Welt sich nach, und vor ihm schreiten Zahllose einher.
A huge number [HYP] of people go to the grave site. Some go in front of the procession and some come behind. And the clods of dirt thrown on the graves of those wicked people who have died are like a nice blanket.
34 Wie leer ist euer Trost! Und eure Antworten sind unaufrichtig."
“So how can you console me by talking nonsense? Every reply that you make is full of lies!”
