Job 21

← Job 20 | Job 21 | Job 22 →

Job 21

HCSBNLTNIVKJV

4 As for me, is my complaint against a man? Then why shouldn’t I be impatient?

5 Look at me and shudder; put your hand over your mouth.

6 When I think about it, I am terrified and my body trembles in horror.

7 Why do the wicked continue to live, growing old and becoming powerful?

8 Their children are established while they are still alive, and their descendants, before their eyes.

9 Their homes are secure and free of fear; no rod from God strikes them.

10 Their bulls breed without fail; their cows calve and do not miscarry.

11 They let their little ones run around like lambs; their children skip about,

12 singing to the tambourine and lyre and rejoicing at the sound of the flute.

13 They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace.

14 Yet they say to God: “Leave us alone! We don’t want to know Your ways.

15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what will we gain by pleading with Him?”

16 But their prosperity is not of their own doing. The counsel of the wicked is far from me!

17 How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come on them? Does He apportion destruction in His anger?

18 Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff a storm sweeps away?

19 God reserves a person’s punishment for his children. Let God repay the person himself, so that he may know it.

20 Let his own eyes see his demise; let him drink from the Almighty’s wrath!

21 For what does he care about his family once he is dead, when the number of his months has run out?

4 “My complaint is with God, not with people. I have good reason to be so impatient.

5 Look at me and be stunned. Put your hand over your mouth in shock.

6 When I think about what I am saying, I shudder. My body trembles.

7 “Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful?

8 They live to see their children grow up and settle down, and they enjoy their grandchildren.

9 Their homes are safe from every fear, and God does not punish them.

10 Their bulls never fail to breed. Their cows bear calves and never miscarry.

11 They let their children frisk about like lambs. Their little ones skip and dance.

12 They sing with tambourine and harp. They celebrate to the sound of the flute.

13 They spend their days in prosperity, then go down to the grave in peace.

14 And yet they say to God, ‘Go away. We want no part of you and your ways.

15 Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him? What good will it do us to pray?’

16 (They think their prosperity is of their own doing, but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)

17 “Yet the light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished. Do they ever have trouble? Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger?

18 Are they driven before the wind like straw? Are they carried away by the storm like chaff? Not at all!

19 “‘Well,’ you say, ‘at least God will punish their children!’ But I say he should punish the ones who sin, so that they understand his judgment.

20 Let them see their destruction with their own eyes. Let them drink deeply of the anger of the Almighty.

21 For they will not care what happens to their family after they are dead.

4 “Is my complaint directed to a human being? Why should I not be impatient?

5 Look at me and be appalled; clap your hand over your mouth.

6 When I think about this, I am terrified; trembling seizes my body.

7 Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?

8 They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes.

9 Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not on them.

10 Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry.

11 They send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about.

12 They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre; they make merry to the sound of the pipe.

13 They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.

14 Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways.

15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?’

16 But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.

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?

18 How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a gale?

19 It 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!

20 Let their own eyes see their destruction; let them drink the cup of the wrath of the Almighty.

21 For what do they care about the families they leave behind when their allotted months come to an end?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Study Notes

Cross-References

1. Job 21:4-21 >> Jeremiah 12:1-6

← Job 20 | Job 21 | Job 22 →