Job 21
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1Then Job replied:1But Job answered and said,
2"Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you give me.2Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
3Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.3Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4"Is my complaint directed to a human being? Why should I not be impatient?4As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
5Look at me and be appalled; clap your hand over your mouth.5Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6When I think about this, I am terrified; trembling seizes my body.6Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
7Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?7Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
8They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes.8Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not on them.9Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry.10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11They send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about.11They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre; they make merry to the sound of the pipe.12They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
13They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.13They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
14Yet they say to God, 'Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways.14Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?'15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
16But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.16Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17"Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does calamity come upon them, the fate God allots in his anger?17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
18How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a gale?18They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
19It is said, 'God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.' Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it!19God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.
20Let their own eyes see their destruction; let them drink the cup of the wrath of the Almighty.20His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21For what do they care about the families they leave behind when their allotted months come to an end?21For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
22"Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?22Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
23One person dies in full vigor, completely secure and at ease,23One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24well nourished in body, bones rich with marrow.24His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good.25And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
26Side by side they lie in the dust, and worms cover them both.26They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27"I know full well what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me.27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28You say, 'Where now is the house of the great, the tents where the wicked lived?'28For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29Have you never questioned those who travel? Have you paid no regard to their accounts--29Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,
30that the wicked are spared from the day of calamity, that they are delivered from the day of wrath?30That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31Who denounces their conduct to their face? Who repays them for what they have done?31Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32They are carried to the grave, and watch is kept over their tombs.32Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
33The soil in the valley is sweet to them; everyone follows after them, and a countless throng goes before them.33The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
34"So how can you console me with your nonsense? Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!"34How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?
New International Version (NIV)

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King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Job 20
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