| Chapter 21
|
1 |
But Job answered and said, |
2 | Hear diligently my speech, and let this
be your consolations. |
3 |
Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. |
4
| As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should
not my spirit be troubled? |
5 |
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth. |
6 |
Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my
flesh. |
7 | Wherefore do the
wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? |
8 | Their seed is established in their
sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. |
9 | Their houses are safe from fear,
neither is the rod of God upon them. |
10 |
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and
casteth not her calf. |
11 | They
send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. |
12 |
They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. |
13 |
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. |
14 |
Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the
knowledge of thy ways. |
15 | What
is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we
have, if we pray unto him? |
16 | Lo,
their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far
from me. |
17
| How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh
their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. |
18 |
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm
carrieth away. |
19 | God
layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he
shall know it. |
20 | His eyes shall
see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the
Almighty. |
21 |
For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his
months is cut off in the midst? |
22 | Shall any teach
God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high. |
23 | One dieth in his full strength, being
wholly at ease and quiet. |
24 | His
breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. |
25 |
And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with
pleasure. |
26 | They shall lie down alike in the dust,
and the worms shall cover them. |
27 |
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully
imagine against me. |
28 | For
ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling
places of the wicked? |
29 | Have
ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their
tokens, |
30 |
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be
brought forth to the day of wrath. |
31 | Who shall
declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath
done? |
32 |
Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. |
33 |
The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw
after him, as there are innumerable before him. |
34 | How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing
in your answers there remaineth falsehood? |