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21 But Iyov answered and said,

Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your tanechumot (consolations).

Bear with me that I may speak; and achar (after) that I have spoken, mock on.

As for me, is my complaint to adam (mortals)? Or why should my ruach not become impatient?

Look at me, and be astonished, and lay your yad upon your peh (mouth).

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

Madu’a (why) do the resha’im live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

Their zera is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

Their batim (houses) are shalom from pachad; neither is the shevet Eloah upon them.

10 Their shor (bull) breeds, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and doth not miscarry her calf.

11 They send forth their little ones like a tzon, and their yeladim jump about.

12 They sing to the tambourine and kinnor, and rejoice at the sound of the flute.

13 They spend their yamim in tov, and in a moment go down to Sheol.

14 Therefore they say unto El, Depart from us; for we desire not the da’as of Thy ways.

15 What is Shaddai, that we should serve Him? And what profit should we have, if we importune Him?

16 Lo, their tov is not in their yad; the etzah (counsel, scheme) of the resha’im is far from me.

17 How oft is the ner (light) of the resha’im put out! And how oft cometh their destruction upon them and He distributeth pains in His anger.

18 They are as straw before the ruach, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

19 Eloah layeth up his iniquity for his banim; He payeth him back, and he shall know it.

20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of Shaddai.

21 For what pleasure hath he in his bais after him, when the mispar (number) of his months is cut off?

22 Shall any teach El da’as, seeing He judgeth those that are on high?

23 Zeh (this one) dieth in his full prosperity, being wholly at ease and secure.

24 His troughs are full of cholov, and his atzmot are moistened with marrow.

25 And another dieth in the marah (bitterness) of his nefesh, and never eateth with pleasure.

26 They shall lie down alike in the aphar, and the worms shall cover them.

27 Behold, I know your machshevot, and the stratagems which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

28 For ye say, Where is the bais of the tyrant? And where are the ohel mishkenot of the resha’im?

29 Have ye not asked them that travel the derech? And do ye not accept their testimony,

30 That the rah is spared in the yom eid (day of calamity)? They shall be rescued in the yom avarot (day of wrath).

31 Who shall declare his derech to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?

32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the gadish (gravemound).

33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and kol adam shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

34 How then comfort ye me with hevel (empty nothings), seeing in your answers there is nothing left but falsehood?

Job

21 Then Job replied:

“Listen carefully to my words;(A)
    let this be the consolation you give me.(B)
Bear with me while I speak,
    and after I have spoken, mock on.(C)

“Is my complaint(D) directed to a human being?
    Why should I not be impatient?(E)
Look at me and be appalled;
    clap your hand over your mouth.(F)
When I think about this, I am terrified;(G)
    trembling seizes my body.(H)
Why do the wicked live on,
    growing old and increasing in power?(I)
They see their children established around them,
    their offspring before their eyes.(J)
Their homes are safe and free from fear;(K)
    the rod of God is not on them.(L)
10 Their bulls never fail to breed;
    their cows calve and do not miscarry.(M)
11 They send forth their children as a flock;(N)
    their little ones dance about.
12 They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre;(O)
    they make merry to the sound of the pipe.(P)
13 They spend their years in prosperity(Q)
    and go down to the grave(R) in peace.[a](S)
14 Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!(T)
    We have no desire to know your ways.(U)
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
    What would we gain by praying to him?’(V)
16 But their prosperity is not in their own hands,
    so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.(W)

17 “Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out?(X)
    How often does calamity(Y) come upon them,
    the fate God allots in his anger?(Z)
18 How often are they like straw before the wind,
    like chaff(AA) swept away(AB) by a gale?(AC)
19 It is said, ‘God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.’(AD)
    Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it!(AE)
20 Let their own eyes see their destruction;(AF)
    let them drink(AG) the cup of the wrath of the Almighty.(AH)
21 For what do they care about the families they leave behind(AI)
    when their allotted months(AJ) come to an end?(AK)

22 “Can anyone teach knowledge to God,(AL)
    since he judges even the highest?(AM)
23 One person dies in full vigor,(AN)
    completely secure and at ease,(AO)
24 well nourished(AP) in body,[b]
    bones(AQ) rich with marrow.(AR)
25 Another dies in bitterness of soul,(AS)
    never having enjoyed anything good.
26 Side by side they lie in the dust,(AT)
    and worms(AU) cover them both.(AV)

27 “I know full well what you are thinking,
    the schemes by which you would wrong me.
28 You say, ‘Where now is the house of the great,(AW)
    the tents where the wicked lived?’(AX)
29 Have you never questioned those who travel?
    Have you paid no regard to their accounts—
30 that the wicked are spared from the day of calamity,(AY)
    that they are delivered from[c] the day of wrath?(AZ)
31 Who denounces their conduct to their face?
    Who repays them for what they have done?(BA)
32 They are carried to the grave,
    and watch is kept over their tombs.(BB)
33 The soil in the valley is sweet to them;(BC)
    everyone follows after them,
    and a countless throng goes[d] before them.(BD)

34 “So how can you console me(BE) with your nonsense?
    Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!”(BF)

Footnotes

  1. Job 21:13 Or in an instant
  2. Job 21:24 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  3. Job 21:30 Or wicked are reserved for the day of calamity, / that they are brought forth to
  4. Job 21:33 Or them, / as a countless throng went