Job 20-21

Common English Bible

² Therefore, my troubled thoughts make me turn back—
    because of my inner turmoil.
³ I hear teaching that insults me,
    but I am forced to answer based on my own understanding.^[a]
4 Do you know this from long ago—
        from when humans were placed on earth—
⁵     that the rejoicing of the wicked is short,
        the joy of the godless, brief?
⁶ Though their height reaches heaven
    and their heads touch the clouds,
⁷     they will perish forever like their dung;
    those who saw them will say, “Where are they?”
⁸ They will disappear like a dream,
        and none will find them,
    carried away like a nighttime vision.
⁹ The eye that saw them will do so no more;
    they won’t be seen again at home.
¹⁰ Their children will repay the poor;
    their hands will give back their wealth.
¹¹ Vigor filled their bones
    and now sleeps with them in the dust.
¹² Though wickedness is sweet in their mouths,
    they hide it under their tongues;
¹³     they like it, won’t let it go;
    they hold it in their cheeks.
¹⁴ Food turns their stomachs,
    becoming a cobra’s poison inside.
¹⁵ They swallow wealth and vomit it;
    God dislodges it from their belly.
¹⁶ They suck cobra’s poison;
    a viper’s tongue kills them.
¹⁷ They won’t experience streams,
    rivers of honey, and brooks of cream.
¹⁸ They won’t receive the reward for their labor;
    they won’t enjoy the wealth from their business.
¹⁹ They crushed and abandoned the poor;
    stole a house they didn’t build;
²⁰     didn’t know contentment in their belly;
    couldn’t escape with their treasure.
²¹ Nothing remained of their food,
    so their riches will not endure.
²² Even in their plenty, they are hard-pressed;
    all sorts of trouble come on them.
²³ Let God^[b] fill their belly,
    unleash his burning anger on them,
    rain punishing blows on them.
²⁴ If they flee an iron weapon,
    a bronze bow pierces them.
²⁵ They pull it out, but it sticks out from their backs;
    its shaft in their liver brings terror.
²⁶ Complete darkness waits for their treasured possessions;
    fire that no one stoked consumes them;
        what’s left in their tent is ruined.
²⁷ Heaven exposes their guilt;
    earth opposes them.
²⁸ Their household wealth will be carried off
    by rushing streams on the day of his anger.
²⁹ This is a wicked person’s lot from God,
    their heritage decreed by God.

² Listen carefully to my remarks
    and let that comfort you.
³ Bear with me so I can speak, I myself;
    and after my reply you can mock.
⁴ Are my complaints against another human;
    why is my patience short?
⁵ Turn to me and be appalled;
    lay your hand over your mouth.
⁶ If I recall it, I’m scared;
    shaking seizes my body.

⁷ Why do the wicked live,
    grow old, and even become strong?
⁸ Their children are always with them,
    their offspring in their sight,
⁹     their houses safe from dread,
    God’s punishing stick not upon them.
¹⁰ Their bull always breeds successfully;
    their cows give birth and never miscarry.
¹¹ They send forth their little ones like sheep;
    their infants bounce around.
¹² They raise drum and lyre,
    rejoice at the sound of a flute.
¹³ They spend their days contentedly,
    go down to the grave^[c] peacefully.
¹⁴ They say to God, “Turn away from us;
    we take no pleasure in knowing your ways;
¹⁵     who is the Almighty^[d] that we should serve him,
        and what can we gain if we meet him?”
¹⁶ Look, isn’t their well-being the work of their own hands?
    A sinner’s logic is beyond me.

¹⁷ How often does the lamp of the wicked flicker
    or disaster come upon them,
    with its fury inflicting pain on them?
¹⁸ Let them be like straw in the wind,
    like dry grass stolen by a storm.
¹⁹ God stores up his punishment for his children.
    Let him destroy them so they know.
²⁰     Let their own eyes witness their doom.
    Let them drink from the Almighty’s wrath.
²¹ What do they care about their household after they die,
    when their numbered days are cut off?

²² Will they instruct God—
    he who judges the most powerful?
²³ Someone dies in wonderful health,
    completely comfortable and well,
²⁴     their buckets full of milk,
    their bones marrow-filled and sound.
²⁵ Another dies in bitter spirit,
    never having tasted the good things.
²⁶ They lie together in the dust
    and worms cover them.

²⁷ Look, I know your thoughts;
    your plans harm me.
²⁸ You say, “Where is the official’s house?
    Where is the tent, the dwelling of the wicked?”
²⁹ Haven’t you asked travelers
    or paid attention to their reports?
³⁰ On the day of disaster the wicked are spared;
    on the day of fury they are rescued.
³¹ Who can criticize their behavior to their faces;
    they act, and who can avenge them?
³² They are carried to their graves;
    someone keeps guard over their tombs.
³³ The soil near the desert streambed is sweet to them;
    everyone marches after them—
    those before them, beyond counting.
³⁴ How empty is your comfort to me;
    only deceit remains in your responses.