Job 21

But Job answered and said,

1Then Job answered them.

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

2"Listen carefully to what I say. Let that be your comfort to me."

3Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

3"Let me talk. When I am done, you can laugh at me again."

Note"Suffer me that I may speak" is old English for "let me speak." Here "suffer" means allow, not hurt.

4As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

4"Am I complaining about a person? No. So of course I am upset."

5Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

5"Look at me and be shocked. Put your hand over your mouth."

6Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

6"When I think about it, I feel afraid. My whole body shakes."

7Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

7"Why do bad people keep on living? They grow old and strong."

8Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

8"Their children grow up safe right beside them. They see their grandchildren too."

9Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

9"Their homes are safe. Nothing scares them. God does not punish them."

10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

10"Their bulls always father calves. Their cows have calves, and none are lost."

11They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

11"Their little children run outside like a flock of sheep. They jump and play."

12They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

12"They sing with drums and harps. They have fun listening to the pipes."

NoteA "timbrel" is a small hand drum, like a tambourine. The "organ" here is a pipe or flute, not a church organ.

13They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

13"They have good things all their lives. Then they die quietly and go to the place of the dead."

Note"Wealth" in old English meant doing well in general, not just having money. "The grave" is the Hebrew word Sheol, the place of the dead.

14Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

14"But they say to God, 'Go away. We do not want to know your ways.'"

15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

15"'Who is God, that we should serve him? What good would praying do us?'"

16Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

16"But their good things did not come from their own hands. I stay far away from thinking like them."

17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

17"How often does the lamp of a bad person really go out? How often does trouble come to them? How often does God, being angry, hand out pain?"

18They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

18"Are they really like dry straw in the wind? Like husks blown away in a storm?"

19God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

19"People say God saves up the punishment for a man's children. But God should punish the man himself, so he feels it."

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

20"Let him see his own ruin with his own eyes. Let him drink God's anger himself."

21For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

21"Why would he care about his family after he dies? His life is already over."

22Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

22"Can anyone teach God something new? God judges even the highest ones."

23One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

23"One man dies while he is still strong. He is calm and comfortable."

24His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

24"His body is well fed. His bones are strong and healthy."

25And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.

25"Another man dies feeling bitter and sad. He never had one good day."

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

26"Both men lie down in the dirt. Worms cover them both the same."

27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

27"Look, I know what you are thinking. I know your plans to blame me."

28For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

28"You ask, 'Where is the rich man's house now? Where do bad people live?'"

29Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

29"Have you asked people who travel the roads? Do you believe what they tell you?"

30That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

30"They will tell you that bad people are spared when trouble comes. They are kept safe on the day of anger."

NoteThe old wording sounds like bad people are saved up so they can be punished later. Job's point is the opposite: they get through the bad day safely. The modern translations read this way too.

31Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

31"Nobody tells such a man to his face that he is wrong. Nobody pays him back."

32Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.

32"He is carried to his grave. People watch over his tomb."

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

33"The soft dirt of the valley rests gently on him. Crowds walk behind him. Countless people went before him."

34How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?

34"So how can your words comfort me? Your answers are simply not true."