Job 21
1 respondens autem Iob dixit
But Job answered and said,
2 audite quaeso sermones meos et agetis paenitentiam
Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
3 sustinete me ut et ego loquar et post mea si videbitur verba ridete
Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4 numquid contra hominem disputatio mea est ut merito non debeam contristari
As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
5 adtendite me et obstupescite et superponite digitum ori vestro
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand on your mouth.
6 et ego quando recordatus fuero pertimesco et concutit carnem meam tremor
Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling takes hold on my flesh.
7 quare ergo impii vivunt sublevati sunt confortatique divitiis
Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, are mighty in power?
8 semen eorum permanet coram eis propinquorum turba et nepotum in conspectu eorum
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 domus eorum securae sunt et pacatae et non est virga Dei super illos
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God on them.
10 bos eorum concepit et non abortit vacca peperit et non est privata fetu suo
Their bull engenders, and fails not; their cow calves, and casts not her calf.
11 egrediuntur quasi greges parvuli eorum et infantes eorum exultant lusibus
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 tenent tympanum et citharam et gaudent ad sonitum organi
They take the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 qui dixerunt Deo recede a nobis et scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus
Therefore they say to God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways.
15 quid est Omnipotens ut serviamus ei et quid nobis prodest si oraverimus illum
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray to him?
16 verumtamen quia non sunt in manu eorum bona sua consilium impiorum longe sit a me
See, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 quotiens lucerna impiorum extinguetur et superveniet eis inundatio et dolores dividet furoris sui
How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft comes their destruction on them! God distributes sorrows in his anger.
18 erunt sicut paleae ante faciem venti et sicut favilla quam turbo dispergit
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.
19 Deus servabit filiis illius dolorem patris et cum reddiderit tunc sciet
God lays up his iniquity for his children: he rewards him, and he shall know it.
20 videbunt oculi eius interfectionem suam et de furore Omnipotentis bibet
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 quid enim ad eum pertinet de domo sua post se et si numerus mensuum eius dimidietur
For what pleasure has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the middle?
22 numquid Deum quispiam docebit scientiam qui excelsos iudicat
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are high.
23 iste moritur robustus et sanus dives et felix
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 viscera eius plena sunt adipe et medullis ossa illius inrigantur
His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 alius vero moritur in amaritudine animae absque ullis opibus
And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure.
26 et tamen simul in pulverem dormient et vermes operient eos
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27 certe novi cogitationes vestras et sententias contra me iniquas
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which you wrongfully imagine against me.
28 dicitis enim ubi est domus principis et ubi tabernacula impiorum
For you say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 interrogate quemlibet de viatoribus et haec eadem eum intellegere cognoscetis
Have you not asked them that go by the way? and do you not know their tokens,
30 quia in diem perditionis servabitur malus et ad diem furoris ducitur
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31 quis arguet coram eo viam eius et quae fecit quis reddet illi
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he has done?
32 ipse ad sepulchra ducetur et in congerie mortuorum vigilabit
Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
33 dulcis fuit glareis Cocyti et post se omnem hominem trahet et ante se innumerabiles
The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
34 quomodo igitur consolamini me frustra cum responsio vestra repugnare ostensa sit veritati
How then comfort you me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
