Job, 21

1. But Job answered and said,

1. Job replied:

2. Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

2. Listen at least to my words, enough of your consolation.

3. Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

3. Bear with me while I speak; and then you can mock.

4. As for me, [is] my complaint to man? and if [it were so], why should not my spirit be troubled?

4. Is my grudge against humans? Why then should I not be impatient?

5. Mark me, and be astonished, and lay [your] hand upon [your] mouth.

5. Look at me and be appalled; cover your mouth for a moment.

6. Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

6. When I think about this I am troubled and trembling seizes my body.

7. Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

7. Why do the wicked live, increase in age and in power?

8. Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

8. Their descendants fluorish in their sight, their kinsfolk and their offspring.

9. Their houses [are] safe from fear, neither [is] the rod of God upon them.

9. Their homes are safe, free from fear; they do not feel the scourge of God.

10. Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

10. Their bulls breed without fail; their cows calve and do not miscarry.

11. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

11. They have children as they have lambs their little ones dance like deer.

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

12. They sing to the rhythm of timbrel and harp; make merry to the sound of the flute.

13. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

13. They live out their days in happiness and go down to Sheol in peace.

14. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

14. Yet they said to God, "Go away! We have no desire to learn your way.

15. What [is] the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

15. Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? What will it profit us if we pray to him?"

16. Lo, their good [is] not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

16. Though they planned everything far from God prosperity is in their hands.

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.

17. How often is their lamp put out? How often does calamity befall them? How often does God's anger wipe them out?

18. They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

18. How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff which the storm sweeps away?

19. God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it].

19. You say, "His children will pay for his sin." Let the man himself pay for his iniquity;

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

20. let his own eyes see his misfortune; let him drink the wrath of the Almighty!

21. For what pleasure [hath] he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

21. What does he care about his family when he dies, when his months have been cut off?

22. Shall [any] teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

22. Can anyone teach God knowledge, since he judges even the highest?

23. One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

23. One man dies in full vigor, at ease and completely secure;

24. His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

24. full and nourished is his figure, rich in marrow are his bones.

25. And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.

25. Another dies in bitterness, never having enjoyed happiness.

26. They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

26. But in the dust they lie down side by side, covered with worms.

27. Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices [which] ye wrongfully imagine against me.

27. I know your thoughts fully and your schemes about me.

28. For ye say, Where [is] the house of the prince? and where [are] the dwelling places of the wicked?

28. For you say, "Where is the house of the great prince? Where is the tent of the wicked?"

29. Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

29. Have you never asked the travelers, or have you misunderstood what they say -

30. That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

30. that the evil man is spared from calamity, delivered from the day of God's fury?

31. Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him [what] he hath done?

31. Who will denounce his conduct to his face or pay him back for what he has done?

32. Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.

32. When people have carried him to the grave his image watches from his tomb.

33. The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as [there are] innumerable before him.

33. The soft earth is sweet to him; behind him you see everyone follow and before him a countless horde.

34. How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?

34. How then can you console me with your nonsense? Pure falsehood is all you have said.