Chapter 21

  Then Job answered and said,  

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  Hear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.  

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

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

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  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?  

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

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

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

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  For what careth he for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off?  

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  Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?  

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

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  His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened.  

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

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

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  Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me.  

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

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  Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences,  

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

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

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  Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb.  

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

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  How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth [only] falsehood?  

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