21:1 Then Job answered and said,
21:1 Then Job answered,

21:2 Hear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations.
21:2 "Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be your [way of] consolation.

21:3 Suffer me, and I also will speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on.
21:3 "Bear with me that I may speak; Then after I have spoken, you may mock.

21:4 As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?
21:4 "As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?

21:5 Mark me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth.
21:5 "Look at me, and be astonished, And put [your] hand over [your] mouth.

21:6 Even when I remember I am troubled, And horror taketh hold on my flesh.
21:6 "Even when I remember, I am disturbed, And horror takes hold of my flesh.

21:7 Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
21:7 "Why do the wicked [still] live, Continue on, also become very powerful?

21:8 Their seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.
21:8 "Their descendants are established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes,

21:9 Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.
21:9 Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God on them.

21:10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
21:10 "His ox mates without fail; His cow calves and does not abort.

21:11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.
21:11 "They send forth their little ones like the flock, And their children skip about.

21:12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
21:12 "They sing to the timbrel and harp And rejoice at the sound of the flute.

21:13 They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol.
21:13 "They spend their days in prosperity, And suddenly they go down to Sheol.

21:14 And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
21:14 "And they say to God, 'Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Thy ways.

21:15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
21:15 'Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, And what would we gain if we entreat Him?'

21:16 Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
21:16 "Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

21:17 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?
21:17 "How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, Or [does] their calamity fall on them? Does God apportion destruction in His anger?

21:18 That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
21:18 "Are they as straw before the wind, And like chaff which the storm carries away?

21:19 (Ye say), God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it:
21:19 "[You say,] 'God stores away a man's iniquity for his sons.' Let God repay him so that he may know [it.]

21:20 Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21:20 "Let his own eyes see his decay, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21:21 For what careth he for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off?
21:21 "For what does he care for his household after him, When the number of his months is cut off?

21:22 Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?
21:22 "Can anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high?

21:23 One dieth in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet:
21:23 "One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and satisfied;

21:24 His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened.
21:24 His sides are filled out with fat, And the marrow of his bones is moist,

21:25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good.
21:25 While another dies with a bitter soul, Never even tasting [anything] good.

21:26 They lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them.
21:26 "Together they lie down in the dust, And worms cover them.

21:27 Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me.
21:27 "Behold, I know your thoughts, And the plans by which you would wrong me.

21:28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?
21:28 "For you say, 'Where is the house of the nobleman, And where is the tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?'

21:29 Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences,
21:29 "Have you not asked wayfaring men, And do you not recognize their witness?

21:30 That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?
21:30 "For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity; They will be led forth at the day of fury.

21:31 Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?
21:31 "Who will confront him with his actions, And who will repay him for what he has done?

21:32 Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb.
21:32 "While he is carried to the grave, [Men] will keep watch over [his] tomb.

21:33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him.
21:33 "The clods of the valley will gently cover him; Moreover, all men will follow after him, While countless ones [go] before him.

21:34 How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth (only) falsehood?
21:34 "How then will you vainly comfort me, For your answers remain [full of] falsehood?"