The Book of Job

chapter 21


Chapters:


verse #1

Then Job answered,


verse #2

“Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.


verse #3

Allow me, and I also will speak. After I have spoken, mock on.


verse #4

As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?


verse #5

Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.


verse #6

When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.


verse #7

“Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?


verse #8

Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.


verse #9

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


verse #10

Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry.


verse #11

They send out their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.


verse #12

They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.


verse #13

They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol.


verse #14

They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about your ways.


verse #15

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’


verse #16

Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.


verse #17

“How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger?


verse #18

How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?


verse #19

You say, ‘God lays up his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.


verse #20

Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.


verse #21

For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?


verse #22

“Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?


verse #23

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


verse #24

His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.


verse #25

Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.


verse #26

They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.


verse #27

“Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would wrong me.


verse #28

For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’


verse #29

Haven’t you asked wayfaring men? Don’t you know their evidences,


verse #30

that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led out to the day of wrath?


verse #31

Who will declare his way to his face? Who will repay him what he has done?


verse #32

Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men will keep watch over the tomb.


verse #33

The clods of the valley will be sweet to him. All men will draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.


verse #34

So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”

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