Job — Chapter 21

1But Job answered and said,

2Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

3Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

4As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

5Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

6Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

7Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

8Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

9Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

11They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

12They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

13They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

14Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

16Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

18They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

19God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

20His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

22Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

23One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

24His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

25And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.

26They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

28For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

29Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

30That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

31Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

32Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.

33The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

34How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?

1Then Job answered and said,

2Hear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations.

3Suffer me, and I also will speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on.

4As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?

5Mark me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth.

6Even when I remember I am troubled, And horror taketh hold on my flesh.

7Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

8Their seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.

9Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.

10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

11They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.

12They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

13They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol.

14And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

16Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity cometh upon them? That [God] distributeth sorrows in his anger?

18That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

19[Ye say], God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it:

20Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21For what careth he for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off?

22Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?

23One dieth in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet:

24His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened.

25And another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good.

26They lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them.

27Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me.

28For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?

29Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences,

30That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?

31Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?

32Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb.

33The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him.

34How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth [only] falsehood?

1Then Job answered:

2“Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you offer me.

3Bear with me and I will speak, and after I have spoken you may mock.

4Is my complaint against a man? If so, why should I not be impatient?

5Look at me and be appalled; put your hands over your mouths.

6For, when I think about this, I am terrified and my body feels a shudder.

7“Why do the wicked go on living, grow old, even increase in power?

8Their children are firmly established in their presence, their offspring before their eyes.

9Their houses are safe and without fear; and no rod of punishment from God is upon them.

10Their bulls breed without fail; their cows calve and do not miscarry.

11They allow their children to run like a flock; their little ones dance about.

12They sing to the accompaniment of tambourine and harp, and make merry to the sound of the flute.

13They live out their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.

14So they say to God, ‘Turn away from us! We do not want to know your ways.

15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain if we were to pray to him?’

16But their prosperity is not their own doing. The counsel of the wicked is far from me!

17“How often is the lamp of the wicked extinguished? How often does their misfortune come upon them? How often does God apportion pain to them in his anger?

18How often are they like straw before the wind and like chaff swept away by a whirlwind?

19You may say, ‘God stores up a man’s punishment for his children!’ Instead let him repay the man himself so that he may be humbled!

20Let his own eyes see his destruction; let him drink of the anger of the Almighty.

21For what is his interest in his home after his death, when the number of his months has been broken off?

22Can anyone teach God knowledge, since he judges those that are on high?

23“One man dies in his full vigor, completely secure and prosperous,

24his body well nourished, and the marrow of his bones moist.

25And another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted anything good.

26Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover over them both.

27“Yes, I know what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me.

28For you say, ‘Where now is the nobleman’s house, and where are the tents in which the wicked lived?’

29Have you never questioned those who travel the roads? Do you not recognize their accounts—

30that the evil man is spared from the day of his misfortune, that he is delivered from the day of God’s wrath?

31No one denounces his conduct to his face; no one repays him for what he has done.

32And when he is carried to the tombs and watch is kept over the funeral mound,

33the clods of the torrent valley are sweet to him; behind him everybody follows in procession, and before him goes a countless throng.

34So how can you console me with your futile words? Nothing is left of your answers but deception!”

1Then Job answered,

2“Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.

3Allow me, and I also will speak; After I have spoken, mock on.

4As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?

5Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.

6When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.

7“Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?

8Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.

9Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

10Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry.

11They send out their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.

12They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

13They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol.

14They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about your ways.

15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’

16Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

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?

18How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?

19You say, ‘God lays up his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.

20Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?

22“Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?

23One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

24His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.

25Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.

26They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.

27“Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would wrong me.

28For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’

29Haven’t you asked wayfaring men? Don’t you know their evidences,

30that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, That they are led out to the day of wrath?

31Who shall declare his way to his face? Who shall repay him what he has done?

32Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men shall keep watch over the tomb.

33The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him. All men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.

34So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”