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Job 21

King James Version

1 But Job answered and said, 2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. 3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. 4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so , why should not my spirit be troubled? 5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth. 6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. 7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? 8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, 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 take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. 13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14 Therefore they say 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 good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me. 17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. 18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. 19 God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and 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 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 his bones are moistened with marrow. 25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. 26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover 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 are the dwelling places of the wicked? 29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, 30 That the wicked is reserved 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 repay him what he hath done? 32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. 33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him. 34 How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood? 

King James Bible (1769). Public Domain.
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Job 21

English Standard Version



1 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Keep listening to my words, and let this be your comfort. (Job 13:17) 3 Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on. (Job 16:10; Job 16:20; Job 17:2) 4 As for me, is my complaint against man? Why should I not be impatient? (Job 10:1; Job 23:2) 5 Look at me and be appalled, and lay your hand over your mouth. (Jud 18:19; Job 29:9; Job 40:4) 6 When I remember, I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh. 7 Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power? (Job 12:6; Ps 17:14; Ps 37:1; Ps 37:35; Ps 73:3; Ps 73:5; Ps 92:7; Ec 8:14; Jer 12:1; Hab 1:13; Hab 1:16; Mal 3:14) 8 Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes. (Job 5:25) 9 Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them. (Job 5:24; Job 9:34) 10 Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry. (Ex 23:26) 11 They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance. (Ps 17:14) 12 They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe. (Ge 4:21; Ex 15:20; Job 30:31) 13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol. (Job 7:9; Job 14:13; Job 17:13; Job 24:19; Job 34:20; Job 36:11; Ps 16:10) 14 They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways. (Job 22:17) 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’ (Ex 5:2; Job 34:9) 16 Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me. (Job 22:18; Ps 1:1) 17 “How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God[1] distributes pains in his anger? (Job 18:5) 18 That they are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away? (Job 13:25; Ps 1:4; Ps 35:5; Ps 83:13; Isa 17:13; Isa 29:5) 19 You say, ‘God stores up their iniquity for their children.’ Let him pay it out to them, that they may know it. (Ex 20:5; Job 15:20; Isa 9:9; Eze 25:14; Ho 9:7) 20 Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty. (Ps 60:3; Ps 75:8; Isa 51:17; Isa 51:22; Jer 25:15; Ob 1:16; Re 14:10) 21 For what do they care for their houses after them, when the number of their months is cut off? (Job 14:5) 22 Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high? (Job 4:18; Job 15:15; Isa 40:14; Ro 11:34; 1Co 2:16) 23 One dies in his full vigor, being wholly at ease and secure, 24 his pails[2] full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist. (Pr 3:8; Isa 58:11; Isa 66:14) 25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of prosperity. (Job 7:11) 26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them. (Job 20:11; Ec 9:2; Isa 14:11) 27 “Behold, I know your thoughts and your schemes to wrong me. 28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’ (Job 8:22; Job 15:34; Job 20:6) 29 Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony 30 that the evil man is spared in the day of calamity, that he is rescued in the day of wrath? (Pr 16:4; 2Pe 2:9) 31 Who declares his way to his face, and who repays him for what he has done? (De 7:10; Ho 5:5; Ga 2:11) 32 When he is carried to the grave, watch is kept over his tomb. (Job 10:19) 33 The clods of the valley are sweet to him; all mankind follows after him, and those who go before him are innumerable. (Job 30:23; Job 38:38; Heb 9:27) 34 How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.” 

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The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.