Job 21
1 Then answered Job, and said,
Then Job answered and said:
2 Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
3 Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
Suffer me, that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4 As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
As for me, is my complaint to man? Or why should I not be impatient?
5 Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Turn unto me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
Even when I remember I am affrighted, and horror hath taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
8 Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
Their houses are safe, without fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
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 skip about [with joy].
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 sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
13 They wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
They spend their days in prosperity, and peacefully they go down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
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 profit shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?' —
16 Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] 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 quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
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 Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm stealeth away?
19 Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
'God layeth up his iniquity for his children!' — let Him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.
20 His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
For what pleasure hath he in his house after him? seeing the number of his months is determined.
22 Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing it is He that judgeth those that are high.
23 That this 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 vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted of good.
26 [And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise 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-minded? and where is the tent of the dwelling-places 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? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
Have ye not asked them that go by the way; and will ye misdeem their tokens,
30 That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward 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 [But] who will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
But who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
For he is borne to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.
33 Sweet are to him the clods of the valley; and after him succeedeth every man, as those that were before him are without number.
The clods of the valley are sweet unto him, and all men draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
How then comfort ye me in vain? And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness?
