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Job Talks

21 Then Job answered, “Be careful to listen to my words. Let this be the comfort you give me. Listen to me while I speak. Then after I have spoken, you may keep on making fun of me. As for me, am I complaining against man? Why should my spirit not be troubled? Look at me, and be surprised; and put your hand over your mouth. When I think, I am troubled; and fear takes hold of my body. Why do the sinful live, become old, and become very powerful? They watch their children’s children become strong in front of their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear. And the punishment of God does not come upon them. 10 Their bull mates without trouble. Their cow gives birth to live calves. 11 They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children jump around. 12 They sing to the timbrel and the harp. They show their joy at the sound of the horn. 13 They spend their days with much more than they need. And all at once they go down to the place of the dead. 14 They say to God, ‘Leave us alone! We do not want to know Your ways. 15 Who is the All-powerful, that we should serve Him? What would we have more than we have if we prayed to Him?’ 16 See, their well-being is not in their own hands. The wisdom of the sinful is far from me.

17 “How many times is the lamp of the sinful put out, that their trouble comes upon them? How often does God send trouble to them in His anger? 18 Are they like straw blown by the wind? Are they like straw that the storm carries away? 19 You say, ‘God stores up a man’s punishment for his sons.’ Let God punish him so that he may know it. 20 Let his own eyes see himself being destroyed. Let him drink the anger of the All-powerful. 21 For what does he care for his house and family after he is dead, when the number of his months is over? 22 Can anyone teach God anything, when He judges those on high? 23 One man dies while still very strong, having everything he needs and time to enjoy it. 24 His body has good food and his bones are strong. 25 Another dies with bitter feelings in his soul, never having enjoyed anything good. 26 Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them.

27 “See, I know your thoughts and your plans to wrong me. 28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of the leader? Where are the tents where the sinful men live?’ 29 Have you not asked those who travel this way? Do you listen to what they say? 30 For the sinful are kept for the day of trouble. They will be brought out on the day of anger. 31 Who will talk to him about his way to his face? And who will punish him for what he has done? 32 When he is carried to the grave, men will keep watch over his grave. 33 The earth of the valley will be sweet to him. All men will follow after him, and those who go before him are too many to number. 34 How then can you comfort me with foolish words? Your answers are full of lies.”

Job

21 Then Job replied:

“Listen carefully to my words;(A)
    let this be the consolation you give me.(B)
Bear with me while I speak,
    and after I have spoken, mock on.(C)

“Is my complaint(D) directed to a human being?
    Why should I not be impatient?(E)
Look at me and be appalled;
    clap your hand over your mouth.(F)
When I think about this, I am terrified;(G)
    trembling seizes my body.(H)
Why do the wicked live on,
    growing old and increasing in power?(I)
They see their children established around them,
    their offspring before their eyes.(J)
Their homes are safe and free from fear;(K)
    the rod of God is not on them.(L)
10 Their bulls never fail to breed;
    their cows calve and do not miscarry.(M)
11 They send forth their children as a flock;(N)
    their little ones dance about.
12 They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre;(O)
    they make merry to the sound of the pipe.(P)
13 They spend their years in prosperity(Q)
    and go down to the grave(R) in peace.[a](S)
14 Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!(T)
    We have no desire to know your ways.(U)
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
    What would we gain by praying to him?’(V)
16 But their prosperity is not in their own hands,
    so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.(W)

17 “Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out?(X)
    How often does calamity(Y) come upon them,
    the fate God allots in his anger?(Z)
18 How often are they like straw before the wind,
    like chaff(AA) swept away(AB) by a gale?(AC)
19 It is said, ‘God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.’(AD)
    Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it!(AE)
20 Let their own eyes see their destruction;(AF)
    let them drink(AG) the cup of the wrath of the Almighty.(AH)
21 For what do they care about the families they leave behind(AI)
    when their allotted months(AJ) come to an end?(AK)

22 “Can anyone teach knowledge to God,(AL)
    since he judges even the highest?(AM)
23 One person dies in full vigor,(AN)
    completely secure and at ease,(AO)
24 well nourished(AP) in body,[b]
    bones(AQ) rich with marrow.(AR)
25 Another dies in bitterness of soul,(AS)
    never having enjoyed anything good.
26 Side by side they lie in the dust,(AT)
    and worms(AU) cover them both.(AV)

27 “I know full well what you are thinking,
    the schemes by which you would wrong me.
28 You say, ‘Where now is the house of the great,(AW)
    the tents where the wicked lived?’(AX)
29 Have you never questioned those who travel?
    Have you paid no regard to their accounts—
30 that the wicked are spared from the day of calamity,(AY)
    that they are delivered from[c] the day of wrath?(AZ)
31 Who denounces their conduct to their face?
    Who repays them for what they have done?(BA)
32 They are carried to the grave,
    and watch is kept over their tombs.(BB)
33 The soil in the valley is sweet to them;(BC)
    everyone follows after them,
    and a countless throng goes[d] before them.(BD)

34 “So how can you console me(BE) with your nonsense?
    Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!”(BF)

Footnotes

  1. Job 21:13 Or in an instant
  2. Job 21:24 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  3. Job 21:30 Or wicked are reserved for the day of calamity, / that they are brought forth to
  4. Job 21:33 Or them, / as a countless throng went