Job 21

¹ Then Job answered and said,

² Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.

³ Suffer me, and I also will speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

⁴ As for me, is my complaint to man? and why should I not be impatient?

⁵ Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

⁶ Even when I remember I am troubled, and horror taketh hold on my flesh.

⁷ Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

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

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

¹⁰ Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

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

¹² They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

¹³ They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment they go down to Sheol.

¹⁴ Yet they said unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

¹⁵ What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

¹⁶ Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

¹⁷ How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? that their calamity cometh upon them? that God distributeth sorrows in his anger?

¹⁸ That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

¹⁹ Ye say, God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.

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

²¹ For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

²² Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

²³ One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet:

²⁴ His breasts are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.

²⁵ And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and never tasteth of good.

²⁶ They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.

²⁷ Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

²⁸ For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?

²⁹ Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens?

³⁰ That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? that they are led forth to the day of wrath?

³¹ Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

³² Yet shall he be borne to the grave, and shall keep watch over the tomb.

³³ The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and all men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.

³⁴ How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth only falsehood?