21:1 Then Job answered and said,

21:2 Hear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations.

21:3 Suffer me, and I also will speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on.

21:4 As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?

21:5 Mark me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth.

21:6 Even when I remember I am troubled, And horror taketh hold on my flesh.

21:7 Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

21:8 Their seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.

21:9 Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.

21:10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

21:11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.

21:12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

21:13 They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol.

21:14 And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

21:15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

21:16 Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

21:17 How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity cometh upon them? That [God] distributeth sorrows in his anger?

21:18 That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

21:19 [Ye say], God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it:

21:20 Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21:21 For what careth he for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off?

21:22 Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?

21:23 One dieth in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet:

21:24 His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened.

21:25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good.

21:26 They lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them.

21:27 Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me.

21:28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?

21:29 Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences,

21:30 That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?

21:31 Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?

21:32 Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb.

21:33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him.

21:34 How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth [only] falsehood?