Job 21

Revised Geneva Translation

21 But Job answered, and said,

² “Hear diligently my words. And let this be your consolation.

³ “Allow me to speak. And when I have spoken, mock on.

⁴ “Is my complaint to man? If it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

⁵ “Mark me and be appalled. And lay your hand upon your mouth.

⁶ “Even when I remember, I am afraid. And fear takes hold of my flesh.

⁷ “Why do the wicked live, grow old, and increase in wealth?

⁸ “Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes.

⁹ “Their houses are peaceable, without fear. And the rod of God is not upon them.

¹⁰ “Their bull breeds, without fail. Their cow calves, and does not cast her calf.

¹¹ “They send forth their children like sheep, and their sons dance.

¹² “They take the tambourine and harp and rejoice in the sound of the organs.

¹³ “They spend their days in wealth, and suddenly they go down to the grave.

¹⁴ “They say also to God, ‘Depart from us! For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways!

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

¹⁶ “Lo, their wealth is not in their hand. Let the counsel of the wicked be far from me.

¹⁷ “How often shall the candle of the wicked be put out and their destruction come upon them? He will divide their lives in His wrath.

¹⁸ “They shall be as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.

¹⁹ “God will lay up sorrow for one’s children. When He rewards him, he shall know it.

²⁰ “His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

²¹ “For what pleasure does he have in his house after him when the number of his months is cut off?

²² “Shall any teach God knowledge, Who judges the highest things?

²³ “One dies in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperity.

²⁴ “His breasts are full of milk, and his bones run full of marrow.

²⁵ “And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure.

²⁶ “They both shall sleep in the dust. And the worms shall cover them.

²⁷ “Behold, I know your thoughts, and the enterprises with which you do me wrong.

²⁸ “For you say, ‘Where is the prince’s house?’ and ‘Where is the tabernacle of the wicked’s dwelling?’

²⁹ “Have you not asked those who go by the way? And you cannot deny their signs.

³⁰ “But the wicked are kept to the Day of Destruction. They shall be brought forth to the Day of Wrath.

³¹ “Who shall declare his way to His face? And who shall reward him for what he has done?

³² “Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and remain in the heap.

³³ “The slimy valley shall be sweet to him, and every man shall follow him, as before him there were innumerable.

³⁴ “How, then, can you comfort me in vain, seeing in your answer there remains but lies?”