Job 21

1And Job answereth and saith: --

1Then Job answered, and said:

2Hear ye diligently my word, And this is your consolation.

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

3Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking--ye may deride.

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

4I--to man <FI>is<Fi> my complaint? and if <FI>so<Fi> , wherefore May not my temper become short?

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

5Turn unto me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.

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

6Yea, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh hath taken fright.

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

7Wherefore do the wicked live? They have become old, Yea, they have been mighty in wealth.

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

8Their seed is established, Before their face with them, And their offspring before their eyes.

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

9Their houses <FI>are<Fi> peace without fear, Nor <FI>is<Fi> a rod of God upon them.

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

10His bullock hath eaten corn, and doth not loath. His cow bringeth forth safely, And doth not miscarry.

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

11They send forth as a flock their sucklings, And their children skip,

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

12They lift <FI>themselves<Fi> up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of an organ.

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

13They wear out in good their days, And in a moment <FI>to<Fi> Sheol go down.

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

14And they say to God, `Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Thy ways We have not desired.

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

15What <FI>is<Fi> the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?'

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

16Lo, not in their hand <FI>is<Fi> their good, (The counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.)

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

17How oft is the lamp of the wicked extinguished, And come on them doth their calamity? Pangs He apportioneth in His anger.

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?

18They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a hurricane hath stolen away,

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

19God layeth up for his sons his sorrow, He giveth recompense unto him--and he knoweth.

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

20His own eyes see his destruction, And of the wrath of the Mighty he drinketh.

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

21For what <FI>is<Fi> his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off?

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

22To God doth <FI>one<Fi> teach knowledge, And He the high doth judge?

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

23This <FI>one<Fi> dieth in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.

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

24His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow his bones doth moisten.

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

25And this <FI>one<Fi> dieth with a bitter soul, And have not eaten with gladness.

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

26Together--on the dust they lie down, And the worm doth cover them over.

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

27Lo, I have known your thoughts, And the devices against me ye do wrongfully.

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

28For ye say, `Where <FI>is<Fi> the house of the noble? And where the tent--The tabernacles of the wicked?'

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

29Have ye not asked those passing by the way? And their signs do ye not know?

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

30That to a day of calamity is the wicked spared. To a day of wrath they are brought.

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

31Who doth declare to his face his way? And <FI>for<Fi> that which he hath done, Who doth give recompence to him?

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

32And he--to the graves he is brought. And over the heap a watch is kept.

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

33Sweet to him have been the clods of the valley, And after him every man he draweth, And before him there is no numbering.

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

34And how do ye comfort me <FI>with<Fi> vanity, And in your answers hath been left trespass?

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