Job 21
1 And Job answered and said,
Then Job answered and said,
2 Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations.
Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
3 Suffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on!
Suffer me, and I also will speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4 As for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient?
As for me, is my complaint to man? and why should I not be impatient?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay the hand upon the mouth.
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Even when I think [thereon], I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
Even when I remember I am troubled, and horror taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
8 Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth 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 shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment they go down to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 And they say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
Yet they said unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
15 What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
16 Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked be far from me!
Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
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 oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? that their calamity cometh upon them? that [God] distributeth sorrows in his anger?
18 Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
19 God layeth up [the punishment of] his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it]:
[Ye say], God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.
20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the fury of the Almighty.
Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what pleasure should he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
22 Can any teach God knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet:
24 His sides are full of fat, and the marrow of his bones is moistened;
His breasts are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good:
And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and never tasteth of good.
26 Together they lie down in the dust, and the worms cover them.
They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
27 Lo, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the noble? and where the tent of the dwellings of the wicked?
For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?
29 Have ye not asked the wayfarers? and do ye not regard their tokens:
Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens?
30 That the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to the day of wrath.
That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? that they are led forth to the day of wrath?
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 Yet is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb.
Yet shall he be borne to the grave, and shall keep watch over the tomb.
33 The clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable before him.
The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and all men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 How then comfort ye me in vain? Your answers remain perfidious.
How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth only falsehood?
