Job 21
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New American Standard Bible 1995New International Version
1Then Job answered,1Then Job replied:
2"Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be your way of consolation.2"Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you give me.
3"Bear with me that I may speak; Then after I have spoken, you may mock.3Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.
4"As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?4"Is my complaint directed to a human being? Why should I not be impatient?
5"Look at me, and be astonished, And put your hand over your mouth.5Look at me and be appalled; clap your hand over your mouth.
6"Even when I remember, I am disturbed, And horror takes hold of my flesh.6When I think about this, I am terrified; trembling seizes my body.
7"Why do the wicked still live, Continue on, also become very powerful?7Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
8"Their descendants are established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes,8They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes.
9Their houses are safe from fear, And the rod of God is not on them.9Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not on them.
10"His ox mates without fail; His cow calves and does not abort.10Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry.
11"They send forth their little ones like the flock, And their children skip about.11They send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about.
12"They sing to the timbrel and harp And rejoice at the sound of the flute.12They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre; they make merry to the sound of the pipe.
13"They spend their days in prosperity, And suddenly they go down to Sheol.13They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.
14"They say to God, 'Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.14Yet they say to God, 'Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways.
15'Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, And what would we gain if we entreat Him?'15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?'
16"Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is far from me.16But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.
17"How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, Or does their calamity fall on them? Does God apportion destruction in His anger?17"Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does calamity come upon them, the fate God allots in his anger?
18"Are they as straw before the wind, And like chaff which the storm carries away?18How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a gale?
19"You say, 'God stores away a man's iniquity for his sons.' Let God repay him so that he may know it.19It is said, 'God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.' Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it!
20"Let his own eyes see his decay, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.20Let their own eyes see their destruction; let them drink the cup of the wrath of the Almighty.
21"For what does he care for his household after him, When the number of his months is cut off?21For what do they care about the families they leave behind when their allotted months come to an end?
22"Can anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high?22"Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?
23"One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and satisfied;23One person dies in full vigor, completely secure and at ease,
24His sides are filled out with fat, And the marrow of his bones is moist,24well nourished in body, bones rich with marrow.
25While another dies with a bitter soul, Never even tasting anything good.25Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good.
26"Together they lie down in the dust, And worms cover them.26Side by side they lie in the dust, and worms cover them both.
27"Behold, I know your thoughts, And the plans by which you would wrong me.27"I know full well what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me.
28"For you say, 'Where is the house of the nobleman, And where is the tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?'28You say, 'Where now is the house of the great, the tents where the wicked lived?'
29"Have you not asked wayfaring men, And do you not recognize their witness?29Have you never questioned those who travel? Have you paid no regard to their accounts--
30"For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity; They will be led forth at the day of fury.30that the wicked are spared from the day of calamity, that they are delivered from the day of wrath?
31"Who will confront him with his actions, And who will repay him for what he has done?31Who denounces their conduct to their face? Who repays them for what they have done?
32"While he is carried to the grave, Men will keep watch over his tomb.32They are carried to the grave, and watch is kept over their tombs.
33"The clods of the valley will gently cover him; Moreover, all men will follow after him, While countless ones go before him.33The soil in the valley is sweet to them; everyone follows after them, and a countless throng goes before them.
34"How then will you vainly comfort me, For your answers remain full of falsehood?"34"So how can you console me with your nonsense? Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!"
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.orgNew International Version (NIV)

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Job 20
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