Job 21
The scripture text is the public-domain World English Bible. “Diesel the Magus Version” names this study edition, comparison system, and commentary lens—not a hidden rewrite of the biblical text.
Then Job answered,
But Job answered and said,
"Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
Allow me, and I also will speak; After I have spoken, mock on.
Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn't I be impatient?
As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
"Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don't miscarry.
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
They send forth their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol.
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
They tell God, 'Depart from us, for we don't want to know about your ways.
Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?'
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
"How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger?
How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
You say, 'God lays up his iniquity for his children.' Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.
God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.
Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
"Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing he judges those who are high?
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
"Behold, I know your thoughts, the devices with which you would wrong me.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'
For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
Haven't you asked wayfaring men? Don't you know their evidences,
Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,
that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, That they are led forth to the day of wrath?
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
Who shall declare his way to his face? Who shall repay him what he has done?
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men shall keep watch over the tomb.
Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him. All men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
So how can you comfort me with nonsense, seeing that in your answers there remains only falsehood?"
How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?