Job 21
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1In response, Job said:1Then Job answered:
2"Listen carefully to my words; let this encourage all of you.2"Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you offer me.
3Bear with me and let me speak! Then, after I've spoken, you'll be free to mock me.3Bear with me and I will speak, and after I have spoken you may mock.
4After all, isn't my complaint against a human being? If so, why shouldn't I be impatient?4Is my complaint against a man? If so, why should I not be impatient?
5Look at me, be appalled, and then shut up!5Look at me and be appalled; put your hands over your mouths.
6When I think about this, I'm petrified with terror and my body shudders uncontrollably."6For, when I think about this, I am terrified and my body feels a shudder.
7"Why do the wicked live to reach old age and increase in power and wealth, too?7"Why do the wicked go on living, grow old, even increase in power?
8Their children grow up while they're alive, and they live to see their grandchildren.8Their children are firmly established in their presence, their offspring before their eyes.
9Their houses are safe from fear, and God's chastisement never visits them.9Their houses are safe and without fear; and no rod of punishment from God is upon them.
10Their bull breeds without fail, and their cows calve without miscarriages.10Their bulls breed without fail; their cows calve and do not miscarry.
11They release their children to play like sheep; their young ones dance about,11They allow their children to run like a flock; their little ones dance about.
12singing with tambourines and lyres as they rejoice to the sound of flutes.12They sing to the accompaniment of tambourine and harp, and make merry to the sound of the flute.
13They grow old in prosperity, as they descend peacefully into the afterlife. 13They live out their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.
14"They say to God, 'Turn away from us! We have no desire to know your ways.14So they say to God, 'Turn away from us! We do not want to know your ways.
15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? Where's the profit in talking to him?'15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain if we were to pray to him?'
16Behold! Their prosperity isn't in their control! The counsel of the wicked will remain far from me."16But their prosperity is not their own doing. The counsel of the wicked is far from me!
17"How often do the wicked have their lights put out? Does calamity ever fall on them? Will God in his anger ever apportion their destruction?17"How often is the lamp of the wicked extinguished? How often does their misfortune come upon them? How often does God apportion pain to them in his anger?
18May they become like a straw, blown away before the wind; like a chaff that's swept off by a storm.18How often are they like straw before the wind, and like chaff swept away by a whirlwind?
19God stores up their iniquity to repay their children; making them repay so that they may be aware.19You may say, 'God stores up a man's punishment for his children!' Instead let him repay the man himself so that he may know it!
20Their own eyes will see their destruction; and they'll drink the wrath of the Almighty.20Let his own eyes see his destruction; let him drink of the anger of the Almighty.
21What will they care for their household after them, when the number of his months comes to an end?"21For what is his interest in his home after his death, when the number of his months has been broken off?
22"Can God learn anything? After all, he will judge even the exalted ones.22Can anyone teach God knowledge, since he judges those that are on high?
23Such persons will die in their full vigor, completely prosperous and secure.23"One man dies in his full vigor, completely secure and prosperous,
24His buckets are filled with milk, his bone marrow is healthy. 24his body well nourished, and the marrow of his bones moist.
25Others die with a bitter soul, never having tasted the good life. 25And another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted anything good.
26They both lie down in the dust; and worms cover them."26Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover over them both.
27"Look! I know your thoughts, your plans are going to harm me.27"Yes, I know what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me.
28You ask, 'Where is the noble person's house?' and 'Where are the tents where the wicked live?'28For you say, 'Where now is the nobleman's house, and where are the tents in which the wicked lived?'
29Haven't you asked travelers on the highway? Don't you accept their word29Have you never questioned those who travel the roads? Do you not recognize their accounts--
30that the wicked person is spared from times of calamity, that he is rescued on the day of wrath?30that the evil man is spared from the day of his misfortune, that he is delivered from the day of God's wrath?
31Who will expose his conduct to his face? Who will repay him for what he has done31No one denounces his conduct to his face; no one repays him for what he has done.
32when he is carried away to the cemetery and guardians are placed to watch his tomb?32And when he is carried to the tombs, and watch is kept over the funeral mound,
33The runoff from the streams will seem sweet to him; everyone will follow after him; countless crows march ahead of him.33The clods of the torrent valley are sweet to him; behind him everybody follows in procession, and before him goes a countless throng.
34How then, can you console me so worthlessly? What is left of your answers is treachery."34So how can you console me with your futile words? Nothing is left of your answers but deception!"
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Job 20
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