Job 21
1 But Job answered and said:
Then Job responded by saying:
2 Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
I beseech you to hear my words and to do penance.
3 Bear with me, that I may speak; And after I have spoken, mock on!
Permit me, and I will speak, and afterwards, if you see fit, you can laugh at my words.
4 Is my complaint concerning man? Why then should I not be angry?
Is my dispute against man, so that I would have no reason to be discouraged?
5 Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!
Listen to me and be astonished, and place a finger over your mouth.
6 When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
As for me, when I think it over, I am afraid, and trembling convulses my body.
7 Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
Why then do the impious live, having been lifted up and strengthened with riches?
8 Their children are established in their sight with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
They see their offspring continue before them: a commotion of close relatives and of children’s children in their sight.
9 Their houses are in peace, without fear, And the rod of God cometh not upon them.
Their houses have been secure and peaceable, and there is no staff of God over them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Their cattle have conceived and have not miscarried; their cow has given birth and is not deprived of her newborn.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.
Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children jump around playfully.
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They take up the timbrel and the lyre, and they rejoice at the sound of the organ.
Their days are prolonged in wealth, yet, in an instant, they descend into hell. (Sheol h7585)
14 And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us! We desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
Who has said to God, “Depart from us, for we do not want the knowledge of your ways.
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what will it profit us, if we pray to him?”
Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? And how is it helpful to us if we pray to him?”
16 [[Ye say, ]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”
It is true that their good things are not in their power. May the counsel of the impious be far from me!
17 How often is it, that the lamp of the wicked is put out? And that destruction cometh upon them, And that He dispenseth to them tribulations in his anger?
How often will the lamp of the wicked be extinguished, and a deluge overtake them, and how often will he distribute the afflictions of his wrath?
18 How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth away?
They will be like chaff before the face of the wind, and like ashes that the whirlwind scatters.
19 “But” [[say ye]] “God layeth up his iniquity for his children.” Let him requite the offender, and let him feel it!
God will preserve the grief of the father for his sons, and, when he repays, then he will understand.
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty!
His eyes will see his own destruction, and he will drink from the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what concern hath he for his household after him, When the number of his own months is completed?
For what does he care what happens to his house after him, or if the number of its months are reduced by half?
22 Who then shall impart knowledge to God, —To him that judgeth the highest?
Can anyone teach holy knowledge to God, who judges the exalted?
23 One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, Being wholly at ease and quiet;
This one dies strong and healthy, rich and happy.
24 His sides are full of fat, And his bones moist with marrow.
His gut is full of fat and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
In truth, another dies in bitterness of soul, without any resources.
26 Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.
And yet they will sleep together in the dust, and worms will cover them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices by which ye wrong me.
Surely, I know your thoughts and your sinful judgments against me.
28 For ye say, “Where is the house of the oppressor, And where the dwelling-places of the wicked?”
For you say, “Where is the house of the ruler, and where are the tabernacles of the impious?”
29 Have ye never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know their tokens,
Ask any passerby whom you wish, and you will realize that he understands these same things:
30 That the wicked is spared in the day of destruction, And that he is borne to his grave in the day of wrath?
that the evil-doer is reserved for the day of destruction, and he will be led to the day of wrath.
31 Who will charge him with his conduct to his face, And who will requite him for the evil he hath done?
Who will reprove his way to his face, and who will repay him for what he has done?
32 Even this man is borne with honor to the grave; Yea, he watcheth over his tomb.
He will be led to the tomb, and he will remain awake in the chaos of the dead.
33 Sweet to him are the sods of the valley: And all men move after him, As multitudes without number before him.
He has been found acceptable to the banks of the River of Lamentation, and he will draw any man towards him, and there are countless before him.
34 Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
Therefore, how long will you console me in vain, when your answer is shown to be repugnant to truth?
