Job 21

1 Then responded Job, and said: —

But Job answered and said,

2 Hear ye patiently my words, and let this be your consolation:

Hear you, hear you my words, that I may not have this consolation from you.

3 Suffer me, that, I, may speak, and, after I have spoken, thou canst mock!

Raise me, and I will speak; then you shall not laugh me to scorn.

4 Did, I, unto man, make my complaint? Wherefore, then, should my spirit not be impatient?

What! is my reproof of man? and why should I not be angry?

5 Turn round to me, and be astonished, and lay hand on mouth!

Look upon me, and wonder, laying your hand upon your cheek.

6 When I call to mind, then am I dismayed, and there seizeth my flesh a shuddering: —

For even when I remember, I am alarmed, and pains seize my flesh.

7 Wherefore do, lawless men, live, advance in years, even wax mighty in power?

Therefore do the ungodly live, and grow old even in wealth?

8 Their seed, is established in their sight, along with them, yea their offspring, before their eyes;

Their seed is according to [their] desire, and their children are in [their] sight.

9 Their houses, are at peace, without dread, neither is, the rod of GOD, upon them;

Their houses are prosperous, neither [have they] any where [cause for] fear, neither is there a scourge from the Lord upon them.

10 His bull, covereth, and causeth not aversion, His cow safely calveth, and casteth not her young;

Their cow does not cast her calf, and their [beast] with young is safe, and does not miscarry.

11 They send forth—like a flock—their young ones, and, their children, skip about for joy;

And they remain as an unfailing flock, and their children play before [them], taking up the lute and harp;

12 They rejoice aloud as [with] timbrel and lyre, and make merry to the sound of the pipe;

and they rejoice at the voice of a song.

13 They complete, in prosperity, their days, and, in a moment to hades, they sink down. (Sheol h7585)

And they spend their days in wealth, and fall asleep in the rest of the grave. (Sheol h7585)

14 Yet they said unto GOD, Depart from us, and, In the knowledge of thy ways, find we no pleasure.

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 serve him? Or what shall we profit, that we should urge him?

What is the Mighty One, that we should serve him? and what profit is there that we should approach him?

16 Lo! not in their own hand, is their welfare, The counsel of lawless men, is far from me!

For their good things were in [their] hands, but he regards not the works of the ungodly.

17 How oft, the lamp of the lawless, goeth out, and their calamity, cometh upon them, Sorrows, apportioneth he 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 They become as straw before the wind, and as chaff, which the storm stealeth away.

And they shall be as chaff before the wind, or as dust which the storm has taken up.

19 Shall, GOD, reserve, for his children, his sorrow? Let him recompense him so that he may know it;

Let his substance fail [to supply] his children: [God] shall recompense him, and he shall know it.

20 His own eyes, shall see his misfortune, and, the wrath of the Almighty, shall he drink.

Let his eyes see his own destruction, and let him not be saved by the Lord.

21 For what shall be his pleasure in his house after him, when, the number of his months, is cut in twain?

For his desire is in his house with him, and the number of his months has been suddenly cut off.

22 Is it, to GOD, one can teach knowledge, seeing that, he, shall judge, them who are on high?

Is it not the Lord who teaches understanding and knowledge? and does not he judge murders?

23 This, man dieth, in the very perfection of his prosperity, wholly tranquil and secure;

One shall die in his perfect strength, and wholly at ease and prosperous;

24 His veins, are filled with nourishment, and, the marrow of his bones, is fresh;

and his inwards are full of fat, and his marrow is diffused [throughout him].

25 Whereas, this other man, dieth, in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted good fortune:

And another dies in bitterness of soul, not eating any good thing.

26 Together, in the dust, they lie down, and, the worm, spreadeth a covering over them.

But they lie down in the earth together, and corruption covers them.

27 Lo! I know your plans, and the devices, wherewith ye would do me violence!

So I know you, that you presumptuously attack me:

28 For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? And where the dwelling-tent of the lawless?

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 ye not asked the passers-by in the way? And, their signs, can ye not recognise?

Ask those that go by the way, and do not disown their tokens.

30 That, to the day of calamity, is the wicked reserved, to the day of indignant visitation, are they led.

For the wicked hastens to the day of destruction: they shall be led away for the day of his vengeance.

31 Who can declare—to his face—his way? And, what, he, hath done, who shall recompense to him?

Who will tell him his way to his face, whereas he has done [it]? who shall recompense him?

32 Yet, he, to the graves, is borne, and, over the tomb, one keepeth watch;

And he has been led away to the tombs, and he has watched over the heaps.

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 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 should ye comfort me with vanity, since, as for your replies, there lurketh, [in them] treachery?

How then do you comfort me in vain? whereas I have no rest from your molestation.