Job 21:17-34

English Standard Version

¹⁷ “How often is it that ^(A)the lamp of the wicked is put out?
    That their calamity comes upon them?
    That God^[a] distributes pains in his anger?
¹⁸ That they are like ^(B)straw before the wind,
    and like ^(C)chaff that the storm carries away?
¹⁹ You say, ‘God ^(D)stores up their iniquity for their ^(E)children.’
    Let him pay it out to them, that they may ^(F)know it.
²⁰ Let their own eyes see their destruction,
    and let them ^(G)drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
²¹ For what do they care for their houses after them,
    when ^(H)the number of their months is cut off?
^22 (I)Will any teach God knowledge,
    seeing that he ^(J)judges those who are on high?
²³ One dies in his full vigor,
    being wholly at ease and secure,
²⁴ his pails^[b] full of milk
    and ^(K)the marrow of his bones moist.
²⁵ Another dies in ^(L)bitterness of soul,
    never having tasted of prosperity.
²⁶ They ^(M)lie down alike in the dust,
    and ^(N)the worms cover them.

²⁷ “Behold, I know your thoughts
    and your schemes to wrong me.
²⁸ For you say, ^(O)‘Where is the house of the prince?
    Where is ^(P)the tent in which the wicked lived?’
²⁹ Have you not asked those who travel the roads,
    and do you not accept their testimony
³⁰ that ^(Q)the evil man is spared in the day of calamity,
    that he is rescued in the day of wrath?
³¹ Who declares his way ^(R)to his face,
    and who ^(S)repays him for what he has done?
³² When he is ^(T)carried to the grave,
    watch is kept over his tomb.
^33 (U)The clods of the valley are sweet to him;
    ^(V)all mankind follows after him,
    and those who go before him are innumerable.
³⁴ How then will you comfort me with empty nothings?
    There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.”