Job 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 that 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 Wherefore do the
wicked live, become
old, yea, 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 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
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 shall 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 shall he be
brought to the
grave, and shall
remain in the
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.
34 How then
comfort ye me in
vain, seeing in your
answers there
remaineth falsehood?