Job 21
1 Then responded Job, and said: —
Then Job made answer and said,
2 Hear ye patiently my words, and let this be your consolation:
Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.
3 Suffer me, that, I, may speak, and, after I have spoken, thou canst mock!
Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.
4 Did, I, unto man, make my complaint? Wherefore, then, should my spirit not be impatient?
As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?
5 Turn round to me, and be astonished, and lay hand on mouth!
Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.
6 When I call to mind, then am I dismayed, and there seizeth my flesh a shuddering: —
At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.
7 Wherefore do, lawless men, live, advance in years, even wax mighty in power?
Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
8 Their seed, is established in their sight, along with them, yea their offspring, before their eyes;
Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses, are at peace, without dread, neither is, the rod of GOD, upon them;
Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.
10 His bull, covereth, and causeth not aversion, His cow safely calveth, and casteth not her young;
Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
11 They send forth—like a flock—their young ones, and, their children, skip about for joy;
They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,
12 They rejoice aloud as [with] timbrel and lyre, and make merry to the sound of the pipe;
They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
13 They complete, in prosperity, their days, and, in a moment to hades, they sink down. (Sheol h7585)
Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
14 Yet they said unto GOD, Depart from us, and, In the knowledge of thy ways, find we no pleasure.
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 serve him? Or what shall we profit, that we should urge 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 Lo! not in their own hand, is their welfare, The counsel of lawless men, is far from me!
Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)
17 How oft, the lamp of the lawless, goeth out, and their calamity, cometh upon them, Sorrows, apportioneth he 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 They become as straw before the wind, and as chaff, which the storm stealeth away.
How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
19 Shall, GOD, reserve, for his children, his sorrow? Let him recompense him so that he may know it;
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 His own eyes, shall see his misfortune, and, the wrath of the Almighty, shall he drink.
Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
21 For what shall be his pleasure in his house after him, when, the number of his months, is cut in twain?
For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
22 Is it, to GOD, one can teach knowledge, seeing that, he, shall judge, them who are on high?
Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
23 This, man dieth, in the very perfection of his prosperity, wholly tranquil and secure;
One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:
24 His veins, are filled with nourishment, and, the marrow of his bones, is fresh;
His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
25 Whereas, this other man, dieth, in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted good fortune:
And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
26 Together, in the dust, they lie down, and, the worm, spreadeth a covering over them.
Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
27 Lo! I know your plans, and the devices, wherewith ye would do me violence!
See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? And where the dwelling-tent of the lawless?
For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
29 Have ye not asked the passers-by in the way? And, their signs, can ye not recognise?
Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?
30 That, to the day of calamity, is the wicked reserved, to the day of indignant visitation, are they led.
How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?
31 Who can declare—to his face—his way? And, what, he, hath done, who shall recompense to him?
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, to the graves, is borne, and, over the tomb, one keepeth watch;
He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
33 Pleasant to him are the mounds of the torrent-bed, —and, after him, doth every man march, as, before him, there were without number.
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 should ye comfort me with vanity, since, as for your replies, there lurketh, [in them] treachery?
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?
