Job 21

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¹Bvt Iob answered, and sayd,

²Heare diligently my wordes, and this shalbe in stead of your consolations.

³Suffer mee, that I may speake, and when I haue spoken, mocke on.

⁴Doe I direct my talke to man? If it were so, how should not my spirit be troubled?

⁵Marke mee, and be abashed, and lay your hand vpon your mouth.

⁶Euen when I remember, I am afrayde, and feare taketh hold on my flesh.

⁷Wherefore do the wicked liue, and waxe olde, and grow in wealth?

⁸Their seede is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes.

⁹Their houses are peaceable without feare, and the rod of God is not vpon them.

¹⁰Their bullocke gendreth, and fayleth not: their cow calueth, and casteth not her calfe.

¹¹They send forth their children like sheepe, and their sonnes dance.

¹²They take the tabret and harpe, and reioyce in the sound of the organs.

¹³They spend their dayes in wealth, and suddenly they go downe to the graue.

¹⁴They say also vnto God, Depart from vs: for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes.

¹⁵Who is the Almightie, that we should serue him? and what profit should we haue, if we should pray vnto him?

¹⁶Lo, their wealth is not in their hand: therfore let the counsell of the wicked bee farre from me.

¹⁷How oft shall the candle of the wicked be put out? and their destruction come vpon them? he wil deuide their liues in his wrath.

¹⁸They shall be as stubble before the winde, and as chaffe that the storme carieth away.

¹⁹God wil lay vp the sorowe of the father for his children: when he rewardeth him, hee shall knowe it.

²⁰His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drinke of the wrath of the Almightie.

²¹For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the nomber of his moneths is cut off?

²²Shall any teache God knowledge, who iudgeth the highest things?

²³One dyeth in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperitie.

²⁴His breasts are full of milke, and his bones runne full of marowe.

²⁵And another dieth in the bitternes of his soule, and neuer eateth with pleasure.

²⁶They shall sleepe both in the dust, and the wormes shall couer them.

²⁷Behold, I know your thoughts, and the enterprises, wherewith ye do me wrong.

²⁸For ye say, Where is the princes house? and where is the tabernacle of the wickeds dwelling?

²⁹May ye not aske the that go by the way? and ye can not deny their signes.

³⁰But the wicked is kept vnto the day of destruction, and they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

³¹Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall reward him for that he hath done?

³²Yet shall he be brought to the graue, and remaine in the heape.

³³The slimie valley shalbe sweete vnto him, and euery man shall draw after him, as before him there were innumerable.

³⁴How then comfort ye me in vaine, seeing in your answeres there remaine but lyes?

Job 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?