Job 21:1-15 ▼

1 Iob aunswered, and saide:

2 O heare diligently my wordes, and that shalbe in steede of your consolations,

3 Suffer me that I may speake, and when I haue spoken mocke on.

4 Is it for mans sake that I make this disputation? Which if it were so, shoulde not my spirite then be in sore trouble?

5 Marke me well and be abashed, and lay your hande vpon your mouth.

6 For when I consider my selfe I am afrayde, and my fleshe is smitten with feare.

7 Wherefore do wicked men liue, come to their olde age, and increase in richesse?

8 Their children lyue in their sight, and their generation before their eyes.

9 Their houses are safe from all feare, and the rod of God is not vpon them.

10 Their bullocke gendreth and that not out of time, their cowe calueth and is not vnfruitfull.

11 They sende foorth their children by flockes, & their sonnes leade the daunce.

12 They beare with them tabrets and harpes, and reioyce in the sounde of the organs.

13 They spend their dayes in wealthines, but sodainely they go downe to the graue.

14 They say also vnto God: Go from vs, we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes.

15 Who is the almightie that we should serue him? And what profite should we haue if we should pray vnto him?