Job 21
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1Then Job answered: 1But Job answered and said,
2"Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you offer me. 2Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
3Bear with me and I will speak, and after I have spoken you may mock. 3Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4Is my complaint against a man? If so, why should I not be impatient? 4As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
5Look at me and be appalled; put your hands over your mouths. 5Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6For, when I think about this, I am terrified and my body feels a shudder. 6Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
7"Why do the wicked go on living, grow old, even increase in power? 7Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
8Their children are firmly established in their presence, their offspring before their eyes. 8Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9Their houses are safe and without fear; and no rod of punishment from God is upon them. 9Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10Their bulls breed without fail; their cows calve and do not miscarry. 10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11They allow their children to run like a flock; their little ones dance about. 11They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12They sing to the accompaniment of tambourine and harp, and make merry to the sound of the flute. 12They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
13They live out their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace. 13They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
14So they say to God, 'Turn away from us! We do not want to know your ways. 14Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain if we were to pray to him?' 15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
16But their prosperity is not their own doing. The counsel of the wicked is far from me! 16Lo, their good is not in their hand: 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 oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
18How often are they like straw before the wind, and like chaff swept away by a whirlwind? 18They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth 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 layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.
20Let his own eyes see his destruction; let him drink of the anger of the Almighty. 20His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21For what is his interest in his home after his death, when the number of his months has been broken off? 21For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
22Can anyone teach God knowledge, since he judges those that are on high? 22Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
23"One man dies in his full vigor, completely secure and prosperous, 23One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24his body well nourished, and the marrow of his bones moist. 24His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25And another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted anything good. 25And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
26Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover over them both. 26They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27"Yes, I know what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me. 27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28For you say, 'Where now is the nobleman's house, and where are the tents in which the wicked lived?' 28For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29Have you never questioned those who travel the roads? Do you not recognize their accounts--29Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,
30that the evil man is spared from the day of his misfortune, that he is delivered from the day of God's wrath? 30That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31No one denounces his conduct to his face; no one repays him for what he has done. 31Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32And when he is carried to the tombs, and watch is kept over the funeral mound, 32Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the 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 clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
34So how can you console me with your futile words? Nothing is left of your answers but deception!" 34How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?
NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Job 20
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