Job 21
1 And Job answered and said,
Job replied,
2 Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations.
“Please listen carefully to what I say—that would be one comfort you could give me.
3 Suffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on!
Bear with me; let me speak. After I've spoken you can resume mocking me.
4 As for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient?
Am I complaining against people? Of course not. Why shouldn't I be impatient?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay the hand upon the mouth.
Just take a look at me. Aren't you appalled? Cover your mouth with your hand in shock!
6 Even when I think [thereon], I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
Every time I think of what's happened to me I am horrified and I shake all over with fear.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power?
Why do the wicked continue to live, to grow old and increasingly powerful?
8 Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their children are with them; they watch their grandchildren grow up.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
They live in their homes in safety—they are not afraid. God does not use his rod to beat them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Their bulls always breed successfully; their cows give birth to calves and do not miscarry.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
They send out their little ones like lambs to play; their children dance around.
12 They shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They sing accompanied by the tambourine and lyre; they celebrate with the music of the flute.
They live out their lives contentedly, and go down to Sheol in peace. (Sheol h7585)
14 And they say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
Yet they tell God, ‘Get lost! We don't want anything to do with you.
15 What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?
Who does the Almighty think he is for us to serve him as slaves? What benefit is there for us if we pray to him?’
16 Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked be far from me!
Such people believe they make their own fortune, but I don't accept their way of thinking.
17 How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and cometh their calamity upon them? Doth he distribute sorrows [to them] in his anger?
How often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does disaster come upon them? How often does God punish the wicked in his anger?
18 Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
Are they blown along like straw in the wind? Does a tornado come in and carry them away?
19 God layeth up [the punishment of] his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it]:
Some say, ‘God saves up people's punishment for their children.’ But I say, ‘God should punish those people themselves so that they can learn from it.’
20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the fury of the Almighty.
Let them see their destruction themselves, and drink deeply from God's anger.
21 For what pleasure should he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
For they don't care what happens to their families once they're dead.
22 Can any teach God knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.
Can anyone teach God anything he doesn't already know, since he is the one who judges even heavenly beings?
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
One person dies in good health, totally comfortable and secure.
24 His sides are full of fat, and the marrow of his bones is moistened;
Their body is fat from eating well; their bones still strong.
25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good:
Another dies after a miserable life without every experiencing happiness.
26 Together they lie down in the dust, and the worms cover them.
Yet they are both buried in the same dust; they are treated alike in death, eaten by maggots.
27 Lo, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me.
Look, I know what you're thinking, and your schemes to do me wrong.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the noble? and where the tent of the dwellings of the wicked?
You may ask me, ‘Where is the home of the great man? Where is the place where the wicked live?’
29 Have ye not asked the wayfarers? and do ye not regard their tokens:
Haven't you asked people who travel? Don't you pay attention to what they tell you?
30 That the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to the day of wrath.
Wicked people are spared in times of disaster; they are rescued from the day of judgment.
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
Who confronts them with their actions? Who pays them back for what they have done?
32 Yet is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb.
When they eventually die and are carried to the graveyard, their tomb is guarded. The earth of the grave softly covers them.
33 The clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable before him.
Everyone attends their funeral service; a huge procession of people comes to pay their last respects.
34 How then comfort ye me in vain? Your answers remain perfidious.
Why do you try to comfort me with worthless nonsense? Your answers are just a pack of lies!”
