Chapter 21

  But Job answered and said,  

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  Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.  

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  Suffer me that I may speak; and after I have spoken, mock on.  

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  As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?  

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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 afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.  

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  Why do the wicked live, become old, and, are mighty in power?  

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  Their seed is established in their sight with them, 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 take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.  

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  They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.  

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  Therefore they say to 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 to him?  

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

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  How oft is the candle of the wicked put out? and how oft cometh their destruction upon them? God distributeth sorrows in his anger.  

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  They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.  

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  God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.  

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  His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.  

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  For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?  

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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 breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.  

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  And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.  

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  They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.  

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  Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.  

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  For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?  

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  Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,  

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  That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they will be brought 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 he shall be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.  

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  The clods of the valley will be sweet to him, and every man will draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.  

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  How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?  

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