| Chapter 21 |
1 | But Job answered and said, |
2 | Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. |
3 | Suffer me that I may speak; and after I have spoken, mock on. |
4 | As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled? |
5 | Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth. |
6 | Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. |
7 | Why do the wicked live, become old, and, are mighty in power? |
8 | Their seed is established in their sight with them, 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 take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. |
13 | They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. |
14 | Therefore they say to 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 to him? |
16 | Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me. |
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. |
18 | They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. |
19 | God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. |
20 | His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of 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? |
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 breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. |
25 | And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. |
26 | They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. |
27 | Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. |
28 | For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked? |
29 | Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, |
30 | That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they will be brought 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 he shall be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. |
33 | The clods of the valley will be sweet to him, and every man will draw after him, as there are innumerable before him. |
34 | How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood? |