Job 21
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Berean Study BibleNew International Version
1Then Job answered:1Then Job replied:
2“Listen carefully to my words; let this be your consolation to me.2"Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you give me.
3Bear with me while I speak; then, after I have spoken, you may go on mocking.3Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.
4Is my complaint against a man? Then why should I not be impatient?4"Is my complaint directed to a human being? Why should I not be impatient?
5Look at me and be appalled; put your hand over your mouth.5Look at me and be appalled; clap your hand over your mouth.
6When I remember, terror takes hold, and my body trembles in horror.6When I think about this, I am terrified; trembling seizes my body.
7Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?7Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
8Their descendants are established around them, and their offspring before their eyes.8They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes.
9Their homes are safe from fear; no rod of punishment from God is upon them.9Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not on them.
10Their bulls breed without fail; their cows bear calves and do not miscarry.10Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry.
11They send forth their little ones like a flock; their children skip about,11They send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about.
12singing to the tambourine and lyre and making merry at the sound of the flute.12They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre; they make merry to the sound of the pipe.
13They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace.13They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.
14Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways.14Yet they say to God, 'Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways.
15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?'
16Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.16But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.
17How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come upon them? Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction?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?
18Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm?18How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a gale?
19It is said that God lays up one’s punishment for his children. Let God repay the man himself, so he will know it.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!
20Let his eyes see his own destruction; let him drink for himself the wrath of the Almighty.20Let their own eyes see their destruction; let them drink the cup of the wrath of the Almighty.
21For what does he care about his household after him, when the number of his months has run out?21For what do they care about the families they leave behind when their allotted months come to an end?
22Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since He judges those on high?22"Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?
23One man dies full of vigor, completely secure and at ease.23One person dies in full vigor, completely secure and at ease,
24His body is well nourished, and his bones are rich with marrow.24well nourished in body, bones rich with marrow.
25Yet another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, having never tasted prosperity.25Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good.
26But together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them both.26Side by side they lie in the dust, and worms cover them both.
27Behold, I know your thoughts full well, the schemes by which you would wrong me.27"I know full well what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me.
28For you say, ‘Where now is the nobleman’s house, and where are the tents in which the wicked dwell?’28You say, 'Where now is the house of the great, the tents where the wicked lived?'
29Have you never asked those who travel the roads? Do you not accept their reports?29Have you never questioned those who travel? Have you paid no regard to their accounts--
30Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of calamity, delivered from the day of wrath.30that the wicked are spared from the day of calamity, that they are delivered from the day of wrath?
31Who denounces his behavior to his face? Who repays him for what he has done?31Who denounces their conduct to their face? Who repays them for what they have done?
32He is carried to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.32They are carried to the grave, and watch is kept over their tombs.
33The clods of the valley are sweet to him; everyone follows behind him, and those before him are without number.33The soil in the valley is sweet to them; everyone follows after them, and a countless throng goes before them.
34So how can you comfort me with empty words? For your answers remain full of falsehood.”34"So how can you console me with your nonsense? Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!"
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Job 20
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