Job 21
ISV Parallel HCSB [BSB CSB ESV HCS KJV ISV NAS NET NIV NLT HEB]
International Standard VersionHolman Christian Standard Bible
1In response, Job said:1Then Job answered:
2"Listen carefully to my words; let this encourage all of you.2Pay close attention to my words; let this be the consolation you offer.
3Bear with me and let me speak! Then, after I've spoken, you'll be free to mock me.3Bear with me while I speak; then after I have spoken, you may continue mocking.
4After all, isn't my complaint against a human being? If so, why shouldn't I be impatient?4As for me, is my complaint against a man? Then why shouldn't I be impatient?
5Look at me, be appalled, and then shut up!5Look at me and shudder; put your hand over your mouth.
6When I think about this, I'm petrified with terror and my body shudders uncontrollably."6When I think about it, I am terrified and my body trembles in horror.
7"Why do the wicked live to reach old age and increase in power and wealth, too?7Why do the wicked continue to live, growing old and becoming powerful?
8Their children grow up while they're alive, and they live to see their grandchildren.8Their children are established while they are still alive, and their descendants, before their eyes.
9Their houses are safe from fear, and God's chastisement never visits them.9Their homes are secure and free of fear; no rod from God strikes them.
10Their bull breeds without fail, and their cows calve without miscarriages.10Their bulls breed without fail; their cows calve and do not miscarry.
11They release their children to play like sheep; their young ones dance about,11They let their little ones run around like lambs; their children skip about,
12singing with tambourines and lyres as they rejoice to the sound of flutes.12singing to the tambourine and lyre and rejoicing at the sound of the flute.
13They grow old in prosperity, as they descend peacefully into the afterlife. 13They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace.
14"They say to God, 'Turn away from us! We have no desire to know your ways.14Yet they say to God: "Leave us alone! We don't want to know Your ways.
15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? Where's the profit in talking to him?'15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what will we gain by pleading with Him?"
16Behold! Their prosperity isn't in their control! The counsel of the wicked will remain far from me."16But their prosperity is not of their own doing. The counsel of the wicked is far from me!
17"How often do the wicked have their lights put out? Does calamity ever fall on them? Will God in his anger ever apportion their destruction?17How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come on them? Does He apportion destruction in His anger?
18May they become like a straw, blown away before the wind; like a chaff that's swept off by a storm.18Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff a storm sweeps away?
19God stores up their iniquity to repay their children; making them repay so that they may be aware.19God reserves a person's punishment for his children. Let God repay the person himself, so that he may know it.
20Their own eyes will see their destruction; and they'll drink the wrath of the Almighty.20Let his own eyes see his demise; let him drink from the Almighty's wrath!
21What will they care for their household after them, when the number of his months comes to an end?"21For what does he care about his family once he is dead, when the number of his months has run out?
22"Can God learn anything? After all, he will judge even the exalted ones.22Can anyone teach God knowledge, since He judges the exalted ones?
23Such persons will die in their full vigor, completely prosperous and secure.23One person dies in excellent health, completely secure and at ease.
24His buckets are filled with milk, his bone marrow is healthy. 24His body is well fed, and his bones are full of marrow.
25Others die with a bitter soul, never having tasted the good life. 25Yet another person dies with a bitter soul, having never tasted prosperity.
26They both lie down in the dust; and worms cover them."26But they both lie in the dust, and worms cover them.
27"Look! I know your thoughts, your plans are going to harm me.27I know your thoughts very well, the schemes you would wrong me with.
28You ask, 'Where is the noble person's house?' and 'Where are the tents where the wicked live?'28For you say, "Where now is the nobleman's house?" and "Where are the tents the wicked lived in?"
29Haven't you asked travelers on the highway? Don't you accept their word29Have you never consulted those who travel the roads? Don't you accept their reports?
30that the wicked person is spared from times of calamity, that he is rescued on the day of wrath?30Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of disaster, rescued from the day of wrath.
31Who will expose his conduct to his face? Who will repay him for what he has done31Who would denounce his behavior to his face? Who would repay him for what he has done?
32when he is carried away to the cemetery and guardians are placed to watch his tomb?32He is carried to the grave, and someone keeps watch over his tomb.
33The runoff from the streams will seem sweet to him; everyone will follow after him; countless crows march ahead of him.33The dirt on his grave is sweet to him. Everyone follows behind him, and those who go before him are without number.
34How then, can you console me so worthlessly? What is left of your answers is treachery."34So how can you offer me such futile comfort? Your answers are deceptive.
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Job 20
Top of Page
Top of Page