Job 21
English Standard Version
Job Replies: The Wicked Do Prosper
21 Then Job answered and said:
2 (A)“Keep listening to my words,
and let this be your comfort.
3 Bear with me, and I will speak,
and after I have spoken, (B)mock on.
4 As for me, is my (C)complaint against man?
Why should I not be impatient?
5 Look at me and be appalled,
and (D)lay your hand over your mouth.
6 When I remember, I am dismayed,
and shuddering seizes my flesh.
7 (E)Why do the wicked live,
reach old age, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their (F)offspring are established in their presence,
and their descendants before their eyes.
9 Their houses are (G)safe from fear,
and (H)no rod of God is upon them.
10 Their bull breeds without fail;
their cow calves and (I)does not miscarry.
11 They send out their (J)little boys like a flock,
and their children dance.
12 They sing to (K)the tambourine and (L)the lyre
and rejoice to the sound of (M)the pipe.
13 They (N)spend their days in prosperity,
and in (O)peace they go down to (P)Sheol.
14 They say to God, (Q)‘Depart from us!
We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.
15 (R)What is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
And what (S)profit do we get if we pray to him?’
16 Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand?
(T)The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 “How often is it that (U)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 (V)straw before the wind,
and like (W)chaff that the storm carries away?
19 You say, ‘God (X)stores up their iniquity for their (Y)children.’
Let him pay it out to them, that they may (Z)know it.
20 Let their own eyes see their destruction,
and let them (AA)drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what do they care for their houses after them,
when (AB)the number of their months is cut off?
22 (AC)Will any teach God knowledge,
seeing that he (AD)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 (AE)the marrow of his bones moist.
25 Another dies in (AF)bitterness of soul,
never having tasted of prosperity.
26 They (AG)lie down alike in the dust,
and (AH)the worms cover them.
27 “Behold, I know your thoughts
and your schemes to wrong me.
28 For you say, (AI)‘Where is the house of the prince?
Where is (AJ)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 (AK)the evil man is spared in the day of calamity,
that he is rescued in the day of wrath?
31 Who declares his way (AL)to his face,
and who (AM)repays him for what he has done?
32 When he is (AN)carried to the grave,
watch is kept over his tomb.
33 (AO)The clods of the valley are sweet to him;
(AP)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.”
Job 21
International Standard Version
Job Reasons with Zophar
21 In response, Job said:
2 “Listen carefully to my words;
let this encourage all of you.
3 Bear with me and let me speak!
Then, after I’ve spoken, you’ll be free to mock me.
4 After all, isn’t my complaint against a human being?
If so, why shouldn’t I be impatient?
5 Look at me, be appalled,
and then shut up!
6 When I think about this,[a] I’m petrified with terror
and my body shudders uncontrollably.”
The Wicked Prospers
7 “Why do the wicked live to reach old age
and increase in power and wealth, too?
8 Their children grow up while they’re alive,
and they live to see their grandchildren.
9 Their houses are safe from fear,
and God’s chastisement[b] never visits them.
10 Their bull breeds without fail,
and their cows calve without miscarriages.
11 They release their children to play like sheep;
their young ones[c] dance about,
12 singing[d] with tambourines and lyres
as they rejoice to the sound of flutes.
13 They grow old[e] in prosperity,
as they descend peacefully into the afterlife.[f]
14 “They say to God, ‘Turn away from us!
We have no desire to know your ways.
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
Where’s the profit in talking to him?’
16 Behold! Their prosperity isn’t in their control!
The counsel of the wicked will remain far from me.”
God will Punish the Wicked
17 “How often do the wicked have their lights put out?
Does calamity ever fall on them?
Will God[g] in his anger ever apportion their destruction?
18 May they become like a straw,
blown away before the wind;
like a chaff that’s swept off by a storm.
19 God stores up their iniquity to repay their children;
making them[h] repay so that they may be aware.
20 Their own eyes will see their destruction;
and they’ll drink the wrath of the Almighty.
21 What will they care for their household after them,
when the number of his months comes to an end?”
Death Levels Everyone
22 “Can God learn anything?
After all, he will judge even the exalted ones.
23 Such persons will die in their full vigor,
completely prosperous and secure.
24 His buckets are filled with milk,
his bone marrow is healthy.[i]
25 Others die with a bitter soul,
never having tasted the good life.[j]
26 They both lie down in the dust;
and worms[k] cover them.”
Job Suspects His Friends of Treachery
27 “Look! I know your thoughts,
your plans[l] are going to harm me.
28 You ask, ‘Where is the noble person’s house?’
and ‘Where are the tents where the wicked live?’
29 Haven’t you asked travelers on the highway?
Don’t you accept their word
30 that the wicked person is spared from times of calamity,
that he is rescued on the day of wrath?
31 Who will expose his conduct to his face?
Who will repay him for what he has done
32 when he is carried away to the cemetery
and guardians are placed to watch his tomb?
33 The runoff from the streams will seem sweet to him;
everyone will follow after him;
countless crows march ahead of him.
34 How then, can you console me so worthlessly?
What is left of your answers is treachery.”
Footnotes
- Job 21:6 The Heb. lacks of this
- Job 21:9 Lit. rod
- Job 21:11 Or children
- Job 21:12 Lit. they take up
- Job 21:13 Lit. wear out their days
- Job 21:13 Lit. Sheol; i.e. the abode of the dead
- Job 21:17 Lit. he
- Job 21:19 Lit. him
- Job 21:24 Lit. moist
- Job 21:25 The Heb. lacks life
- Job 21:26 Lit. and a worm
- Job 21:27 Or purposes
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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