Job 21
1 Then Job answered,
Job replied,
2 “Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
“Please listen carefully to what I say—that would be one comfort you could give me.
3 Allow me, and I also will speak. 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 man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?
Am I complaining against people? Of course not. Why shouldn't I be impatient?
5 Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
Just take a look at me. Aren't you appalled? Cover your mouth with your hand in shock!
6 When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes 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 “Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
Why do the wicked continue to live, to grow old and increasingly powerful?
8 Their child is established with them in their sight, 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 bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry.
Their bulls always breed successfully; their cows give birth to calves and do not miscarry.
11 They send out their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
They send out their little ones like lambs to play; their children dance around.
12 They sing to the tambourine 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 They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about your 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? What profit should we have, if we pray to 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 is far from me.
Such people believe they make their own fortune, but I don't accept their way of thinking.
17 “How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows 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 How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
Are they blown along like straw in the wind? Does a tornado come in and carry them away?
19 You say, ‘God lays up his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to himself, that he may 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 Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Let them see their destruction themselves, and drink deeply from God's anger.
21 For what does he care for 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 “Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?
Can anyone teach God anything he doesn't already know, since he is the one who judges even heavenly beings?
23 One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
One person dies in good health, totally comfortable and secure.
24 His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
Their body is fat from eating well; their bones still strong.
25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
Another dies after a miserable life without every experiencing happiness.
26 They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
Yet they are both buried in the same dust; they are treated alike in death, eaten by maggots.
27 “Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would wrong me.
Look, I know what you're thinking, and your schemes to do me wrong.
28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
You may ask me, ‘Where is the home of the great man? Where is the place where the wicked live?’
29 Haven’t you asked wayfaring men? Don’t you know their evidences,
Haven't you asked people who travel? Don't you pay attention to what they tell you?
30 that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led out to the day of wrath?
Wicked people are spared in times of disaster; they are rescued from the day of judgment.
31 Who will declare his way to his face? Who will repay him what he has done?
Who confronts them with their actions? Who pays them back for what they have done?
32 Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men will keep watch 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 will be sweet to him. All men will draw 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 So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”
Why do you try to comfort me with worthless nonsense? Your answers are just a pack of lies!”
