Job 21

1Then Job answered, and said:

1And Job answered and said,

2Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance.

2Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations.

3Suffer me, and I will speak, and after, if you please, laugh at my words.

3Suffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on!

4Is my debate against man, that I should not have just reason to be troubled?

4As for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient?

5Hearken to me and be astonished, and lay your finger on your mouth.

5Mark me, and be astonished, and lay the hand upon the mouth.

6As for me, when I remember, I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

6Even when I think [thereon], I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.

7Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?

7Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power?

8Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of children's children in their sight.

8Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.

9Their houses are secure and peaceable, and the rod of God is not upon them.

9Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod ofGod upon them.

10Their cattle have conceived, and failed not: their cow has calved, and is not deprived of her fruit.

10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

11Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children dance and play.

11They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

12They take the timbrel, and the harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

12They shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

13They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to hell.

13They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment go down to Sheol.

14Who have said to God: Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

14And they say untoGod, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!

15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what doth it profit us if we pray to him?

15What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?

16Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may the counsel of the wicked be far from me.

16Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked be far from me!

17How often shall the lamp of the wicked be put out, and a deluge come upon them, and he shall distribute the sorrows of his wrath?

17How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and cometh their calamity upon them? Doth he distribute sorrows [to them] in his anger?

18They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes which the whirlwind scattereth.

18Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

19God shall lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: and when he shall repay, then shall he know.

19God layeth up [the punishment of] his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it]:

20His eyes shall see his own destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

20His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the fury of the Almighty.

21For what is it to him what befalleth his house after him: and if the number of his months be diminished by one half?

21For what pleasure should he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?

22Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?

22Can any teachGod knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.

23One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy.

23One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;

24His bowels are full of fat, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

24His sides are full of fat, and the marrow of his bones is moistened;

25But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches:

25And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good:

26And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.

26Together they lie down in the dust, and the worms cover them.

27Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against me.

27Lo, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me.

28For you say: Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

28For ye say, Where is the house of the noble? and where the tent of the dwellings of the wicked?

29Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things.

29Have ye not asked the wayfarers? and do ye not regard their tokens:

30Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, and he shall be brought to the day of wrath.

30That the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to the day of wrath.

31Who shall reprove his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

31Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

32He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the heap of the dead.

32Yet is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb.

33He hath been acceptable to the gravel of Cocytus, and he shall draw every man after him, and there are innumerable before him.

33The clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable before him.

34How then do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewn to be repugnant to truth?

34How then comfort ye me in vain? Your answers remain perfidious.