Chapter 21

But Job answered⁴ and said,⁴

Hear³ diligently² my speech, and let this be your consolations.

Suffer³ me that I may speak;¹⁷ and after that I have spoken,¹⁵ mock on.⁵⁵

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

Mark³ me, and be astonished,⁹² and lay³ [your] hand upon [your] mouth.

Even when I remember¹ I am afraid,⁸ and trembling taketh hold¹ on my flesh.

Wherefore do the wicked live,⁴ become old,¹ yea, are mighty¹ in power?

Their seed is established¹² in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

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

Their bull gendereth,¹⁴ and faileth⁵⁵ not; their cow calveth,¹⁷ and casteth not her calf.¹⁷

They send forth¹⁷ their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.¹⁷

They take⁴ the timbrel and harp, and rejoice⁴ at the sound of the organ.

They spend^{17 1086 17} their days in wealth, and in a moment go down^{11 5181 4} to the grave.

Therefore they say⁴ unto God, Depart³ from us; for we desire¹ not the knowledge of thy ways.

What [is] the Almighty, that we should serve⁴ him? and what profit⁵⁵ should we have, if we pray⁴ unto him?

Lo, their good [is] not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far¹ from me.

How oft is the candle of the wicked put out!⁴ and [how oft] cometh⁴ their destruction upon them! [God] distributeth¹⁷ sorrows in his anger.

They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.¹

God layeth up⁴ his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth¹⁷ him, and he shall know⁴ [it].

His eyes shall see⁴ his destruction, and he shall drink⁴ of the wrath of the Almighty.

For what pleasure [hath] he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?²⁷

Shall [any] teach¹⁷ God knowledge? seeing he judgeth⁴ those that are high.⁶

One dieth⁴ in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

His breasts are full¹ of milk, and his bones are moistened²⁹ with marrow.

And another dieth⁴ in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth¹ with pleasure.

They shall lie down⁴ alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover¹⁷ them.

Behold, I know¹ your thoughts, and the devices [which] ye wrongfully imagine⁴ against me.

For ye say,⁴ Where [is] the house of the prince? and where [are] the dwelling places of the wicked?

Have ye not asked¹ them that go by⁶ the way? and do ye not know¹⁷ their tokens,

That the wicked is reserved¹¹ to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth⁹³ to the day of wrath.

Who shall declare⁵⁵ his way to his face? and who shall repay¹⁷ him [what] he hath done?¹

Yet shall he be brought⁹³ to the grave, and shall remain⁴ in the tomb.

The clods of the valley shall be sweet¹ unto him, and every man shall draw⁴ after him, as [there are] innumerable ⁴⁵⁵⁷ before him.

How then comfort¹⁷ ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth⁸ falsehood?