Job Talks
21 Then Job answered, 2 “Be careful to listen to my words. Let this be the comfort you give me. 3 Listen to me while I speak. Then after I have spoken, you may keep on making fun of me. 4 As for me, am I complaining against man? Why should my spirit not be troubled? 5 Look at me, and be surprised; and put your hand over your mouth. 6 When I think, I am troubled; and fear takes hold of my body. 7 Why do the sinful live, become old, and become very powerful? 8 They watch their children’s children become strong in front of their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear. And the punishment of God does not come upon them. 10 Their bull mates without trouble. Their cow gives birth to live calves. 11 They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children jump around. 12 They sing to the timbrel and the harp. They show their joy at the sound of the horn. 13 They spend their days with much more than they need. And all at once they go down to the place of the dead. 14 They say to God, ‘Leave us alone! We do not want to know Your ways. 15 Who is the All-powerful, that we should serve Him? What would we have more than we have if we prayed to Him?’ 16 See, their well-being is not in their own hands. The wisdom of the sinful is far from me.
17 “How many times is the lamp of the sinful put out, that their trouble comes upon them? How often does God send trouble to them in His anger? 18 Are they like straw blown by the wind? Are they like straw that the storm carries away? 19 You say, ‘God stores up a man’s punishment for his sons.’ Let God punish him so that he may know it. 20 Let his own eyes see himself being destroyed. Let him drink the anger of the All-powerful. 21 For what does he care for his house and family after he is dead, when the number of his months is over? 22 Can anyone teach God anything, when He judges those on high? 23 One man dies while still very strong, having everything he needs and time to enjoy it. 24 His body has good food and his bones are strong. 25 Another dies with bitter feelings in his soul, never having enjoyed anything good. 26 Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them.
27 “See, I know your thoughts and your plans to wrong me. 28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of the leader? Where are the tents where the sinful men live?’ 29 Have you not asked those who travel this way? Do you listen to what they say? 30 For the sinful are kept for the day of trouble. They will be brought out on the day of anger. 31 Who will talk to him about his way to his face? And who will punish him for what he has done? 32 When he is carried to the grave, men will keep watch over his grave. 33 The earth of the valley will be sweet to him. All men will follow after him, and those who go before him are too many to number. 34 How then can you comfort me with foolish words? Your answers are full of lies.”