Job 21
1 Then Job answered, and said,
But Job answered and said,
2 Hear diligently my speech, And let this be your consolations.
Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
3 Allow me, and I also will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.
Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?
As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Even when I remember, I am troubled, and horror takes hold on my flesh.
Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling takes hold on my flesh.
7 Why do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow mighty in power?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
8 Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, nor is the rod of God upon them.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Their bull breeds, and does not fail. Their cow brings forth safely, and does not miscarry.
Their bull genders, and fails not; their cow calves, and casts not her calf.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
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 And they say to God, Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of thy ways.
Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways.
15 What is the Almighty that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray to him?
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
16 Lo, is their prosperity not in their hand. (The counsel of the wicked is far from me.)
Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 How often is it that the lamp of the profane is put out, that their calamity comes upon them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger,
How often is the candle of the wicked put out! and how often comes their destruction upon them! God distributes sorrows in his anger.
18 that they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away?
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.
19 Ye say, God lays up his iniquity for his sons. Let him recompense it to himself that he may know it.
God lays up his iniquity for his children: he rewards him, and he shall know it.
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what does he care for his house after him when the number of his months is cut off?
For what pleasure has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
22 Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing he judges those who are high?
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are high.
23 One man dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 And another man dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure.
26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covers them.
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices with which ye would wrong me.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which all of you wrongfully imagine against me.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent in which the wicked dwelt?
For all of you say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences,
Have all of you not asked them that go by the way? and do all of you not know their tokens,
30 that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he has done?
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he has done?
32 Yet he shall be borne to the grave, and men shall keep watch over the tomb.
Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him. And all men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable 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 ye comfort me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
How then comfort all of you me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
