Job 21
1 But Job answered and said,
But Job answered and said,
2 Hear you, hear you my words, that I may not have this consolation from you.
Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
3 Raise me, and I will speak; then you shall not laugh me to scorn.
Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4 What! is my reproof of man? and why should I not be angry?
As for me, [is] my complaint to man? and if [it were so], why should not my spirit be troubled?
5 Look upon me, and wonder, laying your hand upon your cheek.
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay [your] hand upon [your] mouth.
6 For even when I remember, I am alarmed, and pains seize my flesh.
Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Therefore do the ungodly live, and grow old even in wealth?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
8 Their seed is according to [their] desire, and their children are in [their] sight.
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are prosperous, neither [have they] any where [cause for] fear, neither is there a scourge from the Lord upon them.
Their houses [are] safe from fear, neither [is] the rod of God upon them.
10 Their cow does not cast her calf, and their [beast] with young is safe, and does not miscarry.
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 And they remain as an unfailing flock, and their children play before [them], taking up the lute and harp;
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 and they rejoice at the voice of a song.
They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 Yet [such a man] says to the Lord, Depart from me; I desire not to know your ways.
Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
15 What is the Mighty One, that we should serve him? and what profit is there that we should approach him?
What [is] the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
16 For their good things were in [their] hands, but he regards not the works of the ungodly.
Lo, their good [is] not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 Nevertheless, the lamp of the ungodly also shall be put out, and destruction shall come upon them, and pangs of vengeance shall seize them.
How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and [how oft] cometh their destruction upon them! [God] distributeth sorrows in his anger.
18 And they shall be as chaff before the wind, or as dust which the storm has taken up.
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
19 Let his substance fail [to supply] his children: [God] shall recompense him, and he shall know it.
God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it].
20 Let his eyes see his own destruction, and let him not be saved by the Lord.
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For his desire is in his house with him, and the number of his months has been suddenly cut off.
For what pleasure [hath] he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
22 Is it not the Lord who teaches understanding and knowledge? and does not he judge murders?
Shall [any] teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
23 One shall die in his perfect strength, and wholly at ease and prosperous;
One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 and his inwards are full of fat, and his marrow is diffused [throughout him].
His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 And another dies in bitterness of soul, not eating any good thing.
And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
26 But they lie down in the earth together, and corruption covers them.
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27 So I know you, that you presumptuously attack me:
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices [which] ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28 so that you will say, Where is the house of the prince? and where is the covering of the tabernacles of the ungodly?
For ye say, Where [is] the house of the prince? and where [are] the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 Ask those that go by the way, and do not disown their tokens.
Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,
30 For the wicked hastens to the day of destruction: they shall be led away for the day of his vengeance.
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31 Who will tell him his way to his face, whereas he has done [it]? who shall recompense him?
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him [what] he hath done?
32 And he has been led away to the tombs, and he has watched over the heaps.
Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
33 The stones of the valley have been sweet to him, and every man shall depart after him, and [there are] innumerable [ones] before him.
The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as [there are] innumerable before him.
34 How then do you comfort me in vain? whereas I have no rest from your molestation.
How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?
