The Book of Job

Chapter 21

American Standard Version

Jb 21:1Then Job answered and said,
Jb 21:2Hear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations.
Jb 21:3Suffer me, and I also will speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on.
Jb 21:4As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?
Jb 21:5Mark me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth.
Jb 21:6Even when I remember I am troubled, And horror taketh hold on my flesh.
Jb 21:7Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
Jb 21:8Their seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.
Jb 21:9Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.
Jb 21:10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Jb 21:11They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.
Jb 21:12They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
Jb 21:13They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol.
Jb 21:14And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
Jb 21:15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
Jb 21:16Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Jb 21:17How 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?
Jb 21:18That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
Jb 21:19Ye say, God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it:
Jb 21:20Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Jb 21:21For what careth he for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off?
Jb 21:22Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?
Jb 21:23One dieth in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet:
Jb 21:24His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened.
Jb 21:25And another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good.
Jb 21:26They lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them.
Jb 21:27Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me.
Jb 21:28For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?
Jb 21:29Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences,
Jb 21:30That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?
Jb 21:31Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?
Jb 21:32Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb.
Jb 21:33The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him.
Jb 21:34How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth only falsehood?