THE BOOK OF
JOB

Job 21 ©

Job desires a hearing of his friends, v. 1, etc. Gives reasons why his spirit is distempered, 4. Shows that the wicked are for the most part happy in the world, 7. Notwithstanding that they blaspheme God, 14. He detests them, 16. Nevertheless they are seldom punished in this life, 17. God is righteous, although He deals unequally with men, 22. Job prevents the bad judgments of his friends which they made about his children, 27. Shows that the wicked are free here for the most part of all punishments, to the end of their life, 29. He rejects the consolations of his friends, 34.

1

BUT Job answered and said,

2

1Hear diligently my speech, and let 2this be 3your consolations

3

Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, 4mock on.

4

As for me, is my complaint 5to man? and 6if it were so, 7why should not my spirit be 8troubled?

5

Mark me, and be 9astonished, and 10lay your hand upon your mouth.

6

Even when I 11remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

7

Whereforea do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

8

Their 12seed is established in their sight with them, and their 13offspring before their eyes.

9

Their houses are 14safe from fear, neither is the 15rod of God upon them.

10

16Their bull gendereth,b and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

11

17They send forth their little ones like a 18flock, and their children 19dance.

12

They 20take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

13

They 21spend their days in 22wealth, and 23in a moment go down to the grave.

14

Thereforec they 24say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of 25thy ways.

15

Whatdis the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, 26if we pray unto him?

16

Lo, 27their good is not in their hand: thee28counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17

29How oft is the 30candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrowsf in his anger.

18

They are 31as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

19

God 32layeth up his 33iniquity for his children: 34he 35rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

20

His eyes shall see his destruction, and 36he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21

For 37what pleasure hath he in his house after him, 38when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

22

Shallgany teach God 39knowledge? seeing he 40judgeth those that are 41high.

23

42One dieth 43in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

24

His 44breasts are full of milk, and his 45bones are moistened with marrow.

25

And another dieth 46in the bitterness of his soul, and never 47eateth with 48pleasure.

26

They shall lie down 49alike in the dust, andh the worms shall cover them.

27

50Behold, I know your thoughts, and the 51devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

28

For ye 52say, Where is the 53house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the 54wicked?

29

Have ye not 55asked them 56that go by the way? and do ye not know their 57tokens,

30

Thati the wicked is 58reserved to the day of destruction? 59they shall be brought forth to the day of 60wrath.

31

Who shall declare his 61way to 62his face? and 63who shall repay him 64what he hath done?

32

Yet shall he be brought to 65the grave, and 66shall remain in the tomb.

33

67The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man 68shall draw after him, as there are innumerable 69before him.

34

How then comfort 70ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth 71falsehood?