Job 21
old testament
- 1 Then Job answered and said,
- 2 Hear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations.
- 3 Suffer me, and I also will speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on.
- 4 As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?
- 5 Mark me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth.
- 6 Even when I remember I am troubled, And horror taketh hold on my flesh.
- 7 Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
- 8 Their seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.
- 9 Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.
- 10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
- 11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.
- 12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
- 13 They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol.
- 14 And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
- 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
- 16 Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
- 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?
- 18 That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
- 19 [Ye say], God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it:
- 20 Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
- 21 For what careth he for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off?
- 22 Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?
- 23 One dieth in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet:
- 24 His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened.
- 25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good.
- 26 They lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them.
- 27 Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me.
- 28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?
- 29 Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences,
- 30 That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?
- 31 Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?
- 32 Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb.
- 33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him.
- 34 How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth [only] falsehood?