Job 21

CHAPTER 21 Job Recounts How the Wicked Prosper

1 And undertaking, Job says, 2 Hear, hear my words! that there should be to me [³from ⁴you ¹this ²comfort]. 3 Lift me! and I will speak, then you shall not ridicule me. 4 For what, is [³from man ¹my ²rebuke]? or why shall I not be enraged? 5 O ones looking at me, wonder [²your hand ¹while putting] upon your jaw. 6 For even if I should remember, I hurry, [³hold ¹and ⁴the things of my ⁵flesh ²griefs]. 7 Why do the impious live, and they grow old, and in riches? 8 Their sowing is according to their soul's desire; and their children in eyes. 9 Their houses prosper, and fear is not to them at all; and the whip of the lord is not upon them. 10 Their ox does not bring forth prematurely, [⁵are preserved ¹and ²their ⁴ones ³pregnant] to have, and not to trip. 11 And they remain as [²sheep ¹everlasting], and their children play before them, 12 taking up the psaltery and harp, and they are gladdened at the sound of a psalm. 13 And they complete [²with ³good things ¹their existence], and in the rest of Hades they go to sleep. 14 And he says to the lord, Separate from me! [⁴your ways ³to know ¹I do not ²want]. 15 What is fit that we shall serve him? and what benefit, that we shall meet with him? 16 [²in ³hands ¹For ⁶were not ⁷to him ⁴the ⁵good things]; but works of the impious he does not inspect. 17 But in fact, even [²of the impious ¹the lamp] shall be extinguished, and there shall come upon them the final event, and pangs from them they shall have from anger. 18 And they will be as straw before the wind, or as a cloud of dust which [²took up ¹the tempest]. 19 May [²fail ³his sons ¹his possessions]; and God shall recompense to him, and he shall know it. 20 May [²behold ¹his eyes] his own slaughter; and by the lord may he not be delivered. 21 For his will is in his house with him, and the numbers of his months were divided. 22 Is it not the lord who is the one teaching understanding and higher knowledge? And is it not he who [²the wise ¹litigates]. 23 This one shall die in the might of his singleness of purpose, but entirely enjoying pleasure and prospering; 24 and his insides are full of fat, [³marrow ¹and ²his] is diffused in him. 25 And another one comes to an end in bitterness of soul, not eating anything good. 26 But in one accord upon the earth they sleep, and rottenness covers them. 27 So as I know you, that you daringly press upon me; 28 that you shall say, Where is the house of the ruler? and where is the protection of the tents of the impious? 29 Ask the ones passing by the way, and [²their signs ¹you shall not separate from]. 30 For unto the day of destruction [³lightens ¹the ²wicked one]; for the day of his anger he shall be taken away. 31 Who will report unto his face his way? And what he did, who shall recompense to him? 32 And he [²unto ³the tombs ¹was carried away]; and [²upon ³the heaps ¹stayed awake]. 33 [³was sweet ⁴to him ¹The gravel ²of the rushing stream], and after him every man shall go forth, and in front of him there are innumerable ones. 34 And how do you comfort me in vain? but for me to rest from you is nothing.