1 God Does Not Punish the Wicked Then Job answered and said,
2 “Listen carefully to my speech,And let this be yourway ofconsolation.
3 “Bear with me that I may speak;Then after I have spoken, you may mock.
4 “As for me, is my musing 21:4Or against to man?And why should 21:4Lit my spirit I not be impatient?
5 “Look at me, and be appalled,And putyourhand overyourmouth.
6 “Even when I remember, I am dismayed,And horror seizes my flesh.
7 “Why do the wickedstilllive,Continue on, also become very powerful?
8 “Their seed is established with them in their presence,And their offspring before their eyes,
9 Their houses are safe from dread,And the rod of God is not on them.
10 “His ox mates and does not fail;His cow calves and does not miscarry.
11 “They send forth their little ones like the flock,And their children skip about.
12 “They lift up the tambourine and harpAnd are glad at the sound of the pipe.
13 “They spend their days in prosperity,And 21:13As in most versions; M.T. are shattered by Sheol suddenly they go down to Sheol.
14 “They say to God, ‘Depart from us!We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.
15 ‘ 21:15Lit What Who is 21:15Heb Shaddai the Almighty, that we should serve Him,And what would we profit if we entreat Him?’
16 “Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand;The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 ¶“How often is the lamp of the wicked put out,Or does their disaster fall on them?Does 21:17Lit He God apportion destruction in His anger?
18 “Are they as straw before the wind,And like chaff which the storm steals away?
19 “You say, ‘God stores away 21:19 Lit his a man’s wickedness for his sons.’Let 21:19 Lit Him God repay him so that he may knowit.
20 “Let his own eyes see his decay,And let him drink of the wrath of 21:20Heb Shaddai the Almighty.
21 “For what desire does he have for his household 21:21After he dies after him,When the number of his months is cut off?
22 “Can anyone teach God knowledge,In that He judges those on high?
23 “One dies in his full strength,Being wholly carefree and at ease;
24 His 21:24As in Syr; Heb uncertain; some Heb mss render as his pails are full of milk sides are filled out with fat,And the marrow of his bones is moist,
25 But another dies with a bitter soul,Never even eatsanythinggood.
26 “Together they lie down in the dust,And worms cover them.
27 ¶“Behold, I know your thoughts,And the plans by which you do violence against me.
28 “For you say, ‘Where is the house of the nobleman,And where is the tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?’
29 “Have you not asked those who pass by along the way,And do you not recognize their 21:29Lit signs witness?
30 “That the wicked is reserved for the day of disaster;They will be led forth at the day of fury.
31 “Who will declare to his face about his actions,And who will repay him for what he has done?
32 “While he is led forth to the grave,Menwill keep watch overhistomb.
33 “The clods of the valley will 21:33Lit be sweet to him gently cover him;Moreover, all men will draw up after him,While countless onesgobefore him.
34 “How then will you vainly comfort me,Indeedwhenyour answers remainfull of 21:34Or faithlessness falsehood?”