Job 21

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¹Then Job made answer and said,

²Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.

³Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.

⁴As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?

⁵Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.

⁶At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.

⁷Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?

⁸Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

⁹Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.

¹⁰Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.

¹¹They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,

¹²They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.

¹³Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld.

¹⁴Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.

¹⁵What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?

¹⁶Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)

¹⁷How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords?

¹⁸How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?

¹⁹You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it!

²⁰Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!

²¹For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?

²²Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.

²³One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:

²⁴His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.

²⁵And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.

²⁶Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.

²⁷See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;

²⁸For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?

²⁹Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?

³⁰How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?

³¹Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?

³²He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.

³³The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.

³⁴Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit?

Job 21

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 do not miscarry.

¹¹They send forth 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 do not 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, seeing 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 devices 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? Do you 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? 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, seeing that in your answers there remains only falsehood?"