Job 21
1 Then Job answered and said,
Job replied,
2 Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
“Please listen carefully to what I say—that would be one comfort you could give me.
3 Suffer me, and I also will speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
Bear with me; let me speak. After I've spoken you can resume mocking me.
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and why should I not be impatient?
Am I complaining against people? Of course not. Why shouldn't I be impatient?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Just take a look at me. Aren't you appalled? Cover your mouth with your hand in shock!
6 Even when I remember I am troubled, and horror taketh hold on my flesh.
Every time I think of what's happened to me I am horrified and I shake all over with fear.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
Why do the wicked continue to live, to grow old and increasingly powerful?
8 Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their children are with them; they watch their grandchildren grow up.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
They live in their homes in safety—they are not afraid. God does not use his rod to beat them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Their bulls always breed successfully; their cows give birth to calves and do not miscarry.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
They send out their little ones like lambs to play; their children dance around.
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They sing accompanied by the tambourine and lyre; they celebrate with the music of the flute.
They live out their lives contentedly, and go down to Sheol in peace. (Sheol h7585)
14 Yet they said unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
Yet they tell God, ‘Get lost! We don't want anything to do with you.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
Who does the Almighty think he is for us to serve him as slaves? What benefit is there for us if we pray to him?’
16 Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Such people believe they make their own fortune, but I don't accept their way of thinking.
17 How 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?
How often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does disaster come upon them? How often does God punish the wicked in his anger?
18 That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
Are they blown along like straw in the wind? Does a tornado come in and carry them away?
19 [Ye say], God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.
Some say, ‘God saves up people's punishment for their children.’ But I say, ‘God should punish those people themselves so that they can learn from it.’
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Let them see their destruction themselves, and drink deeply from God's anger.
21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
For they don't care what happens to their families once they're dead.
22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
Can anyone teach God anything he doesn't already know, since he is the one who judges even heavenly beings?
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet:
One person dies in good health, totally comfortable and secure.
24 His breasts are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
Their body is fat from eating well; their bones still strong.
25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and never tasteth of good.
Another dies after a miserable life without every experiencing happiness.
26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
Yet they are both buried in the same dust; they are treated alike in death, eaten by maggots.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
Look, I know what you're thinking, and your schemes to do me wrong.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?
You may ask me, ‘Where is the home of the great man? Where is the place where the wicked live?’
29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens?
Haven't you asked people who travel? Don't you pay attention to what they tell you?
30 That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? that they are led forth to the day of wrath?
Wicked people are spared in times of disaster; they are rescued from the day of judgment.
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
Who confronts them with their actions? Who pays them back for what they have done?
32 Yet shall he be borne to the grave, and shall keep watch over the tomb.
When they eventually die and are carried to the graveyard, their tomb is guarded. The earth of the grave softly covers them.
33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and all men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
Everyone attends their funeral service; a huge procession of people comes to pay their last respects.
34 How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth only falsehood?
Why do you try to comfort me with worthless nonsense? Your answers are just a pack of lies!”
