< Job 21 >

1 Bvt Iob answered, and sayd,
But Job answered and said,
2 Heare diligently my wordes, and this shalbe in stead of your consolations.
Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
3 Suffer mee, that I may speake, and when I haue spoken, mocke on.
Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4 Doe I direct my talke to man? If it were so, how should not my spirit be troubled?
As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
5 Marke mee, and be abashed, and lay your hand vpon your mouth.
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Euen when I remember, I am afrayde, and feare taketh hold on my flesh.
Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling takes hold on my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked liue, and waxe olde, and grow in wealth?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
8 Their seede is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes.
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are peaceable without feare, and the rod of God is not vpon them.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Their bullocke gendreth, and fayleth not: their cow calueth, and casteth not her calfe.
Their bull genders, and fails not; their cow calves, and casts not her calf.
11 They send forth their children like sheepe, and their sonnes dance.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 They take the tabret and harpe, and reioyce in the sound of the organs.
They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
13 They spend their dayes in wealth, and suddenly they go downe to the graue. (Sheol h7585)
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 They say also vnto God, Depart from vs: for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes.
Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways.
15 Who is the Almightie, that we should serue him? and what profit should we haue, if we should pray vnto him?
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
16 Lo, their wealth is not in their hand: therfore let the counsell of the wicked bee farre from me.
Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 How oft shall the candle of the wicked be put out? and their destruction come vpon them? he wil deuide their liues in his wrath.
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 They shall be as stubble before the winde, and as chaffe that the storme carieth away.
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.
19 God wil lay vp the sorowe of the father for his children: when he rewardeth him, hee shall knowe it.
God lays up his iniquity for his children: he rewards him, and he shall know it.
20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drinke of the wrath of the Almightie.
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the nomber of his moneths 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 teache God knowledge, who iudgeth the highest things?
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are high.
23 One dyeth in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperitie.
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His breasts are full of milke, and his bones runne full of marowe.
His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 And another dieth in the bitternes of his soule, and neuer eateth with pleasure.
And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure.
26 They shall sleepe both in the dust, and the wormes shall couer them.
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the enterprises, wherewith ye do me wrong.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which all of you wrongfully imagine against me.
28 For ye say, Where is the princes house? and where is the tabernacle of the wickeds dwelling?
For all of you say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 May ye not aske the that go by the way? and ye can not deny their signes.
Have all of you not asked them that go by the way? and do all of you not know their tokens,
30 But the wicked is kept vnto the day of destruction, and they shall be brought 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 reward him for that he hath done?
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he has done?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the graue, and remaine in the heape.
Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
33 The slimie valley shalbe sweete vnto him, and euery man shall draw after him, as before him there were innumerable.
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 comfort ye me in vaine, seeing in your answeres there remaine but lyes?
How then comfort all of you me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?

< Job 21 >