Job 21
1 But Job answered and said,
Then Job answered and said:
2 Hear ye, hear ye 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 ye 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? Or why should I not be impatient?
5 Look upon me, and wonder, laying your hand upon your cheek.
Turn unto 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 affrighted, and horror hath taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the ungodly live, and grow old even in wealth?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax 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, without 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 psaltery 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 sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, and peacefully they go down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 Yet [such a man] says to the Lord, Depart from me; I desire not to know thy ways.
Yet they said 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 prosperity 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 it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? that their calamity cometh upon them? that He distributeth pains in His anger?
18 And they shall be as chaff before the wind, or as dust which the storm has taken up.
That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm stealeth 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!' — let Him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.
20 Let his eyes see his own destruction, and let him not be saved by the Lord.
Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him 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? seeing the number of his months is determined.
22 Is it not the Lord who teaches understanding and knowledge? and does not he judge murders?
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing it is He that 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 pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 And another dies in bitterness of soul, not eating any good thing.
And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted of good.
26 But they lie down in the earth together, and corruption covers them.
They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
27 So I know you, that ye presumptuously attack me:
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28 so that ye 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 is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?'
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 will ye misdeem 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 evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led 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?
But 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.
For he is borne to the grave, and watch is kept over his 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 are sweet unto him, and all men draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 How then do ye comfort me in vain? whereas I have no rest from your molestation.
How then comfort ye me in vain? And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness?
