Job 21 Comparison: Catholic Public Domain vs Douay-Rheims

Job 21

¹Then Job responded by saying:

²I beseech you to hear my words and to do penance.

³Permit me, and I will speak, and afterwards, if you see fit, you can laugh at my words.

⁴Is my dispute against man, so that I would have no reason to be discouraged?

⁵Listen to me and be astonished, and place a finger over your mouth.

⁶As for me, when I think it over, I am afraid, and trembling convulses my body.

⁷Why then do the impious live, having been lifted up and strengthened with riches?

⁸They see their offspring continue before them: a commotion of close relatives and of children’s children in their sight.

⁹Their houses have been secure and peaceable, and there is no staff of God over them.

¹⁰Their cattle have conceived and have not miscarried; their cow has given birth and is not deprived of her newborn.

¹¹Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children jump around playfully.

¹²They take up the timbrel and the lyre, and they rejoice at the sound of the organ.

¹³Their days are prolonged in wealth, yet, in an instant, they descend into hell.

¹⁴Who has said to God, “Depart from us, for we do not want the knowledge of your ways.

¹⁵Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? And how is it helpful to us if we pray to him?”

¹⁶It is true that their good things are not in their power. May the counsel of the impious be far from me!

¹⁷How 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?

¹⁸They will be like chaff before the face of the wind, and like ashes that the whirlwind scatters.

¹⁹God will preserve the grief of the father for his sons, and, when he repays, then he will understand.

²⁰His eyes will see his own destruction, and he will drink from the wrath of the Almighty.

²¹For what does he care what happens to his house after him, or if the number of its months are reduced by half?

²²Can anyone teach holy knowledge to God, who judges the exalted?

²³This one dies strong and healthy, rich and happy.

²⁴His gut is full of fat and his bones are moistened with marrow.

²⁵In truth, another dies in bitterness of soul, without any resources.

²⁶And yet they will sleep together in the dust, and worms will cover them.

²⁷Surely, I know your thoughts and your sinful judgments against me.

²⁸For you say, “Where is the house of the ruler, and where are the tabernacles of the impious?”

²⁹Ask any passerby whom you wish, and you will realize that he understands these same things:

³⁰that the evil-doer is reserved for the day of destruction, and he will be led to the day of wrath.

³¹Who will reprove his way to his face, and who will repay him for what he has done?

³²He will be led to the tomb, and he will remain awake in the chaos of the dead.

³³He 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.

³⁴Therefore, how long will you console me in vain, when your answer is shown to be repugnant to truth?

Job 21

¹Then Job answered, and said:

²Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance.

³Suffer me, and I will speak, and after, if you please, laugh at my words.

⁴Is my debate against man, that I should not have just reason to be troubled?

⁵Hearken to me and be astonished, and lay your finger on your mouth.

⁶As for me, when I remember, I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

⁷Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?

⁸Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of children's children in their sight.

⁹Their houses are secure and peaceable, and the rod of God is not upon them.

¹⁰Their cattle have conceived, and failed not: their cow has calved, and is not deprived of her fruit.

¹¹Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children dance and play.

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

¹³They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to hell.

¹⁴Who have said to God: Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

¹⁵Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what doth it profit us if we pray to him?

¹⁶Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may the counsel of the wicked be far from me.

¹⁷How often shall the lamp of the wicked be put out, and a deluge come upon them, and he shall distribute the sorrows of his wrath?

¹⁸They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes which the whirlwind scattereth.

¹⁹God shall lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: and when he shall repay, then shall he know.

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

²¹For what is it to him what befalleth his house after him: and if the number of his months be diminished by one half?

²²Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?

²³One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy.

²⁴His bowels are full of fat, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

²⁵But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches:

²⁶And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.

²⁷Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against me.

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

²⁹Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things.

³⁰Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, and he shall be brought to the day of wrath.

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

³²He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the heap of the dead.

³³He hath been acceptable to the gravel of Cocytus, and he shall draw every man after him, and there are innumerable before him.

³⁴How then do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewn to be repugnant to truth?