Job 21
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1Then Job answered: 1Then Job answered:
2"Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you offer me. 2Pay close attention to my words; let this be the consolation you offer.
3Bear with me and I will speak, and after I have spoken you may mock. 3Bear with me while I speak; then after I have spoken, you may continue mocking.
4Is my complaint against a man? If so, why should I not be impatient? 4As for me, is my complaint against a man? Then why shouldn't I be impatient?
5Look at me and be appalled; put your hands over your mouths. 5Look at me and shudder; put your hand over your mouth.
6For, when I think about this, I am terrified and my body feels a shudder. 6When I think about it, I am terrified and my body trembles in horror.
7"Why do the wicked go on living, grow old, even increase in power? 7Why do the wicked continue to live, growing old and becoming powerful?
8Their children are firmly established in their presence, their offspring before their eyes. 8Their children are established while they are still alive, and their descendants, before their eyes.
9Their houses are safe and without fear; and no rod of punishment from God is upon them. 9Their homes are secure and free of fear; no rod from God strikes them.
10Their bulls breed without fail; their cows calve and do not miscarry. 10Their bulls breed without fail; their cows calve and do not miscarry.
11They allow their children to run like a flock; their little ones dance about. 11They let their little ones run around like lambs; their children skip about,
12They sing to the accompaniment of tambourine and harp, and make merry to the sound of the flute. 12singing to the tambourine and lyre and rejoicing at the sound of the flute.
13They live out their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace. 13They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace.
14So they say to God, 'Turn away from us! We do not want 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? What would we gain if we were to pray to him?' 15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what will we gain by pleading with Him?"
16But their prosperity is not their own doing. The counsel of the wicked is far from me! 16But their prosperity is not of their own doing. The counsel of the wicked is far from me!
17"How often is the lamp of the wicked extinguished? How often does their misfortune come upon them? How often does God apportion pain to them in his anger? 17How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come on them? Does He apportion destruction in His anger?
18How often are they like straw before the wind, and like chaff swept away by a whirlwind? 18Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff a storm sweeps away?
19You may say, 'God stores up a man's punishment for his children!' Instead let him repay the man himself so that he may know it! 19God reserves a person's punishment for his children. Let God repay the person himself, so that he may know it.
20Let his own eyes see his destruction; let him drink of the anger of the Almighty. 20Let his own eyes see his demise; let him drink from the Almighty's wrath!
21For what is his interest in his home after his death, when the number of his months has been broken off? 21For what does he care about his family once he is dead, when the number of his months has run out?
22Can anyone teach God knowledge, since he judges those that are on high? 22Can anyone teach God knowledge, since He judges the exalted ones?
23"One man dies in his full vigor, completely secure and prosperous, 23One person dies in excellent health, completely secure and at ease.
24his body well nourished, and the marrow of his bones moist. 24His body is well fed, and his bones are full of marrow.
25And another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted anything good. 25Yet another person dies with a bitter soul, having never tasted prosperity.
26Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover over them both. 26But they both lie in the dust, and worms cover them.
27"Yes, I know what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me. 27I know your thoughts very well, the schemes you would wrong me with.
28For you say, 'Where now is the nobleman's house, and where are the tents in which the wicked lived?' 28For you say, "Where now is the nobleman's house?" and "Where are the tents the wicked lived in?"
29Have you never questioned those who travel the roads? Do you not recognize their accounts--29Have you never consulted those who travel the roads? Don't you accept their reports?
30that the evil man is spared from the day of his misfortune, that he is delivered from the day of God's wrath? 30Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of disaster, rescued from the day of wrath.
31No one denounces his conduct to his face; no one repays him for what he has done. 31Who would denounce his behavior to his face? Who would repay him for what he has done?
32And when he is carried to the tombs, and watch is kept over the funeral mound, 32He is carried to the grave, and someone keeps watch over his tomb.
33The clods of the torrent valley are sweet to him; behind him everybody follows in procession, and before him goes a countless throng. 33The dirt on his grave is sweet to him. Everyone follows behind him, and those who go before him are without number.
34So how can you console me with your futile words? Nothing is left of your answers but deception!" 34So how can you offer me such futile comfort? Your answers are deceptive.
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Job 20
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