Job 21 NKJV ISV Parallel

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◄ Job 21 ►

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1Then Job answered and said:

1In response, Job said:

2“Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be your consolation.

2"Listen carefully to my words; let this encourage all of you.

3Bear with me that I may speak, And after I have spoken, keep mocking.

3Bear with me and let me speak! Then, after I've spoken, you'll be free to mock me.

4“As for me, is my complaint against man? And if it were, why should I not be impatient?

4After all, isn't my complaint against a human being? If so, why shouldn't I be impatient?

5Look at me and be astonished; Put your hand over your mouth.

5Look at me, be appalled, and then shut up!

6Even when I remember I am terrified, And trembling takes hold of my flesh.

6When I think about this, I'm petrified with terror and my body shudders uncontrollably."

7Why do the wicked live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power?

7"Why do the wicked live to reach old age and increase in power and wealth, too?

8Their descendants are established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.

8Their children grow up while they're alive, and they live to see their grandchildren.

9Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.

9Their houses are safe from fear, and God's chastisement never visits them.

10Their bull breeds without failure; Their cow calves without miscarriage.

10Their bull breeds without fail, and their cows calve without miscarriages.

11They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.

11They release their children to play like sheep; their young ones dance about,

12They sing to the tambourine and harp, And rejoice to the sound of the flute.

12singing with tambourines and lyres as they rejoice to the sound of flutes.

13They spend their days in wealth, And in a moment go down to the grave.

13They grow old in prosperity, as they descend peacefully into the afterlife.

14Yet they say to God, ‘Depart from us, For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.

14"They say to God, 'Turn away from us! We have no desire to know your ways.

15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?’

15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? Where's the profit in talking to him?'

16Indeed their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

16Behold! Their prosperity isn't in their control! The counsel of the wicked will remain far from me."

17“How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does their destruction come upon them, The sorrows God distributes in His anger?

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?

18They are like straw before the wind, And like chaff that a storm carries away.

18May they become like a straw, blown away before the wind; like a chaff that's swept off by a storm.

19They say, ‘God lays up one’s iniquity for his children’; Let Him recompense him, that he may know it.

19God stores up their iniquity to repay their children; making them repay so that they may be aware.

20Let his eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

20Their own eyes will see their destruction; and they'll drink the wrath of the Almighty.

21For what does he care about his household after him, When the number of his months is cut in half?

21What will they care for their household after them, when the number of his months comes to an end?"

22“Can anyone teach God knowledge, Since He judges those on high?

22"Can God learn anything? After all, he will judge even the exalted ones.

23One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and secure;

23Such persons will die in their full vigor, completely prosperous and secure.

24His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moist.

24His buckets are filled with milk, his bone marrow is healthy.

25Another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, Never having eaten with pleasure.

25Others die with a bitter soul, never having tasted the good life.

26They lie down alike in the dust, And worms cover them.

26They both lie down in the dust; and worms cover them."

27“Look, I know your thoughts, And the schemes with which you would wrong me.

27"Look! I know your thoughts, your plans are going to harm me.

28For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent, The dwelling place of the wicked?’

28You ask, 'Where is the noble person's house?' and 'Where are the tents where the wicked live?'

29Have you not asked those who travel the road? And do you not know their signs?

29Haven't you asked travelers on the highway? Don't you accept their word

30For the wicked are reserved for the day of doom; They shall be brought out on the day of wrath.

30that the wicked person is spared from times of calamity, that he is rescued on the day of wrath?

31Who condemns his way to his face? And who repays him for what he has done?

31Who will expose his conduct to his face? Who will repay him for what he has done

32Yet he shall be brought to the grave, And a vigil kept over the tomb.

32when he is carried away to the cemetery and guardians are placed to watch his tomb?

33The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him; Everyone shall follow him, As countless have gone before him.

33The runoff from the streams will seem sweet to him; everyone will follow after him; countless crows march ahead of him.

34How then can you comfort me with empty words, Since falsehood remains in your answers?”

34How then, can you console me so worthlessly? What is left of your answers is treachery."

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