21:1 But Job answered and said,
21:2 Hear ye, hear ye my words, that I may not have this consolation from
you.
21:3 Raise me, and I will speak; then ye shall not laugh me to scorn.
21:4 What! is my reproof of man? and why should I not be angry?
21:5 Look upon me, and wonder, laying your hand upon your cheek.
21:6 For even when I remember, I am alarmed, and pains seize my flesh.
21:7 Wherefore do the ungodly live, and grow old even in wealth?
21:8 Their seed is according to [their] desire, and their children are in
[their] sight.
21:9 Their houses are prosperous, neither [have they] any where [cause for]
fear, neither is there a scourge from the Lord upon them.
21:10 Their cow does not cast her calf, and their [beast] with young is
safe, and does not miscarry.
21:11 And they remain as an unfailing flock, and their children play before
[them], taking up the psaltery and harp;
21:12 and they rejoice at the voice of a song.
21:13 And they spend their days in wealth, and fall asleep in the rest of
the grave.
21:14 Yet [such a man] says to the Lord, Depart from me; I desire not to
know thy ways.
21:15 What is the Mighty One, that we should serve him? and what profit is
there that we should approach him?
21:16 For their good things were in [their] hands, but he regards not the
works of the ungodly.
21:17 Nevertheless, the lamp of the ungodly also shall be put out, and
destruction shall come upon them, and pangs of vengeance shall seize them.
21:18 And they shall be as chaff before the wind, or as dust which the storm
has taken up.
21:19 Let his substance fail [to supply] his children: [God] shall
recompense him, and he shall know it.
21:20 Let his eyes see his own destruction, and let him not be saved by the
Lord.
21:21 For his desire is in his house with him, and the number of his months
has been suddenly cut off.
21:22 Is it not the Lord who teaches understanding and knowledge? and does
not he judge murders?
21:23 One shall die in his perfect strength, and wholly at ease and
prosperous;
21:24 and his inwards are full of fat, and his marrow is diffused
[throughout him].
21:25 And another dies in bitterness of soul, not eating any good thing.
21:26 But they lie down in the earth together, and corruption covers them.
21:27 So I know you, that ye presumptuously attack me:
21:28 so that ye will say, Where is the house of the prince? and where is
the covering of the tabernacles of the ungodly?
21:29 Ask those that go by the way, and do not disown their tokens.
21:30 For the wicked hastens to the day of destruction: they shall be led
away for the day of his vengeance.
21:31 Who will tell him his way to his face, whereas he has done [it]? who
shall recompense him?
21:32 And he has been led away to the tombs, and he has watched over the
heaps.
21:33 The stones of the valley have been sweet to him, and every man shall
depart after him, and [there are] innumerable [ones] before him.
21:34 How then do ye comfort me in vain? whereas I have no rest from your
molestation. |
21:1 But Job answered and said,
21:2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
21:3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
21:4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my
spirit be troubled?
21:5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
21:6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my
flesh.
21:7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
21:8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring
before their eyes.
21:9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
21:10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth
not her calf.
21:11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children
dance.
21:12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
21:13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
21:14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the
knowledge of thy ways.
21:15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should
we have, if we pray unto him?
21:16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far
from me.
21:17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their
destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
21:18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm
carrieth away.
21:19 God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he
shall know it.
21:20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of
the Almighty.
21:21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of
his months is cut off in the midst?
21:22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
21:23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
21:24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
21:25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with
pleasure.
21:26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
21:27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully
imagine against me.
21:28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the
dwelling places of the wicked?
21:29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their
tokens,
21:30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be
brought forth to the day of wrath.
21:31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he
hath done?
21:32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
21:33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall
draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
21:34 How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth
falsehood? |