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Job replies to Zophar

21 Then Job replied. This is what he said:

2 ‘Listen carefully to the things that I am saying.
You can only help me if you do that.
3 Be patient with me so that I can speak.
After you have heard what I say,
you may choose to laugh at me.
4 It is not people that I want to argue with. [ a ]
So I have good reason to be upset.
5 When you look at me, you should be upset.
You should cover your mouth with your hand.
6 I think about what has happened to me.
It makes me very afraid.
My body shakes with fear.

7 Why do wicked people continue to live for a long time?
The older they become, the more power they have.
8 They see their own children grow and become strong.
Their children also have strong families.
9 They are safe in their homes
and they are not afraid.
God does not punish them.
10 Their cows give birth safely to many calves.
11 Their children run and play.
They jump like young lambs.
12 They enjoy the music of tambourines and harps.
They sing with joy to the sound of flutes.
13 Wicked people have plenty of money through their whole lives.
Even when they die, they do not suffer.
14 They say to God, “Leave us alone!
We do not want to know about your ways.
15 We do not need to serve the Almighty God.
If we pray to him,
there is nothing he can do to help us.”
16 They think that they have made themselves rich.
But it is not true.
So I do not listen to the things that wicked people say.

17 It seems that wicked people enjoy a long life.
They do not often have many troubles.
When God is angry with them,
he does not cause them to suffer.
18 He does not blow them away,
like the wind blows dry grass.
They do not disappear like chaff that a storm blows away.
19 You may say, “God will punish a wicked person's children
with the punishment that he deserves.”
But I say that God should punish the wicked person himself.
Then he will realize that he is wicked.
20 Wicked people should receive their own punishment.
They should see that Almighty God is angry with them.
21 After wicked people have died,
it does not matter to them if their family suffers.

22 No one can teach God what he should do.
He himself judges the most powerful rulers. [ b ]
23 One person has good health all his life.
Even when he is ready to die,
he still lives a safe and happy life.
24 He eats good food and his body is strong.
25 But another person is sad all his life, until he dies.
No good things ever happen to him.
26 But they all die one day
and their bodies lie under the ground.
Worms cover their bodies, whoever they are.

27 I know what you are thinking.
You want to show that I am guilty.
28 You say, “You see that the rich person no longer has a house.
Wicked people no longer have homes to live in.”
29 But you should ask people who travel to different places.
You should listen to the things that they say.
30 They would tell you that wicked people do not always suffer.
When trouble comes,
they continue to be safe.
When God is angry with people,
wicked people escape punishment.
31 No one speaks against them
to say that they are guilty.
No one punishes them
for the bad things that they have done.
32 When a wicked person dies,
people bury him with honour.
Guards watch over his grave.
33 A big crowd of people come to his funeral.
They make a heap of earth over his body,
in the valley where he rests happily.

34 So your useless words do not comfort me.
Your answers are all lies!’

Footnotes

  1. 21:4 Job is saying that he wants to argue with God, not with people. His friends have told him that God only punishes wicked people. But Job knows that God decides what happens to all people, good people and bad people. Nobody can tell God what he should do.
  2. 21:22 ‘The most powerful rulers’ or ‘angels’.

Job Answers

21 Then Job answered:

2 “Listen to what I say.
Let this be your way of comforting me.
3 Be patient while I speak.
Then after I have finished speaking, you may make fun of me.

4 “My complaint is not against people.
There is a good reason why I am not patient.
5 Look at me and be shocked.
Put your hand over your mouth, and stare at me in shock!
6 When I think about what happened to me,
I feel afraid and my body shakes!
7 Why do evil people live long lives?
Why do they grow old and successful?
8 They watch their children grow up
and live to see their grandchildren.
9 Their homes are safe and free from fear.
God does not punish them.
10 Their bulls never fail to mate.
Their cows have healthy calves.
11 They send their children out to play like lambs.
Their children dance around.
12 They sing and dance to the sound of harps and flutes.
13 Evil people enjoy success during their lives
and then go to the grave without suffering.
14 They say to God, ‘Leave us alone!
We don’t care what you want us to do!’
15 And they say, ‘Who is God All-Powerful?
We don’t need to serve him!
It will not help to pray to him!’

16 “Of course, evil people don’t make their own success.
I would never follow their advice.
17 But how often does God blow out their light?
How often does trouble come to them?
How often does God get angry with them and punish them?
18 Does God blow them away, as the wind blows straw
or as strong winds blow the grain husks?
19 But you say, ‘God is saving their punishment for their children.’
No! Let God punish the evil people themselves so that they will know what they have done!
20 Let them see their own punishment.
Let them feel the anger of God All-Powerful.
21 When their life is finished and they are dead,
they will not care about the family they leave behind.

22 “No one can teach God anything he doesn’t already know.
God judges even those in high places.
23 One person dies after living a full and successful life,
a life completely safe and comfortable,
24 with a body that was well fed
and bones that were still strong.
25 But another person dies after a hard life that has made them bitter,
never having enjoyed anything good.
26 In the end, both of these people will lie together in the dirt.
The worms will cover them both.

27 “But I know what you are thinking,
and I know you want to hurt me.
28 You might say, ‘Show me a good man’s house.
Now, show me where evil people live.’ [ a ]

29 “Surely you have talked with travelers.
Surely you will accept their stories.
30 Evil people are spared when disaster comes.
They survive when God shows his anger.
31 No one criticizes them to their faces for how they lived.
No one punishes them for the evil they have done.
32 When they are carried to the grave,
they will have someone to watch over the place they are buried.
33 So even the soil in the valley will be pleasant for them,
and thousands of people will join their funeral procession.

34 “So your empty words are no comfort to me.
There is no truth at all in your answers!”

Footnotes

  1. Job 21:28 Show me … live Or “Show me a wicked ruler’s house. Show me where evil people live.”

21 But Job answered and said,

2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

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?

22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.

26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

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

32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.

33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

34 How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?

Job Says God Will Deal with the Wicked

21 Then Job responded,

2 “Listen carefully to my speech,
And let this be your way of consolation.
3 Bear with me that I may speak;
Then after I have spoken, you may ( A ) mock me .
4 As for me, is ( B ) my complaint [ a ] to a mortal?
Or ( C ) why should [ b ] I not be impatient?
5 Look at me, and be astonished,
And ( D ) put your hand over your mouth.
6 Even when I remember, I am disturbed,
And ( E ) horror takes hold of my flesh.
7 Why ( F ) do the wicked still live,
Grow old, and also become very [ c ] ( G ) powerful?
8 Their [ d ] ( H ) descendants endure with them in their sight,
And their offspring before their eyes,
9 Their houses ( I ) are safe from fear,
And the [ e ] rod of God is not on them.
10 His ox mates [ f ] without fail;
His cow calves and does not miscarry.
11 They send out their boys like the flock,
And their children dance.
12 They [ g ] sing with the tambourine and harp,
And rejoice at the sound of the flute.
13 They ( J ) spend their days in prosperity,
And [ h ] suddenly they go down to [ i ] Sheol.
14 Yet they say to God, ‘ ( K ) Go away from us!
We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.
15 [ j ] Who is [ k ] the Almighty, that we should serve Him,
And ( L ) what would we gain if we plead with Him?’
16 Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand;
The ( M ) advice of the wicked is far from me.

17 “How often is ( N ) the lamp of the wicked put out,
Or does their ( O ) disaster fall on them?
Does [ l ] God apportion destruction in His anger?
18 Are they as ( P ) straw before the wind,
And like ( Q ) chaff which the storm carries away?
19 You say , ‘ ( R ) God saves up [ m ] a person’s [ n ] wrongdoing for his sons.’
Let [ o ] God repay him so that he may know it .
20 Let his ( S ) own eyes see his destruction,
And let him ( T ) drink of the wrath of [ p ] the Almighty.
21 For what does he care about his household [ q ] after him,
When the number of his months is at an end?
22 Can anyone ( U ) teach God knowledge,
In that He ( V ) judges those on high?
23 One ( W ) dies in his full strength,
Being wholly undisturbed and at ease;
24 His [ r ] sides are filled with fat,
And the ( X ) marrow of his bones is wet,
25 While another dies with a bitter soul,
Never even [ s ] tasting anything good.
26 Together they ( Y ) lie down in the dust,
And ( Z ) maggots cover them.

27 “Behold, I know your thoughts,
And the plots you devise against me.
28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of ( AA ) the nobleman,
And where is the ( AB ) tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?’
29 Have you not asked travelers,
And do you not examine their [ t ] evidence?
30 For the ( AC ) wicked person is spared [ u ] a day of disaster;
They [ v ] are led away from ( AD ) a day of fury.
31 Who [ w ] confronts him with his actions,
And who repays him for what he has done?
32 When he is carried to the grave,
People will keep watch over his tomb.
33 The ( AE ) clods of the valley will [ x ] gently cover him;
Moreover, ( AF ) all mankind will [ y ] follow after him,
While countless others go before him.
34 So how dare you give me empty ( AG ) comfort?
For your answers remain nothing but falsehood!”

Footnotes

  1. Job 21:4 Or against
  2. Job 21:4 Lit my spirit
  3. Job 21:7 Or superior
  4. Job 21:8 Lit seed
  5. Job 21:9 I.e., punishment
  6. Job 21:10 Lit and does not fail
  7. Job 21:12 Lit lifted up the voice
  8. Job 21:13 Or in peacefulness
  9. Job 21:13 I.e., the netherworld
  10. Job 21:15 Lit What
  11. Job 21:15 Heb Shaddai
  12. Job 21:17 Lit He
  13. Job 21:19 Lit his
  14. Job 21:19 Or disaster
  15. Job 21:19 Lit Him
  16. Job 21:20 Heb Shaddai
  17. Job 21:21 I.e., after he dies
  18. Job 21:24 As in Syriac; Heb uncertain. Some render as his pails are full of milk
  19. Job 21:25 Lit eating
  20. Job 21:29 Lit signs
  21. Job 21:30 Or for the day
  22. Job 21:30 Or will be led to the day
  23. Job 21:31 Lit declares his way to his face
  24. Job 21:33 Lit be sweet to him
  25. Job 21:33 Lit draw

Job

21 Then Job replied:

2 “Listen carefully to my words; ( A )
let this be the consolation you give me. ( B )
3 Bear with me while I speak,
and after I have spoken, mock on. ( C )

4 “Is my complaint ( D ) directed to a human being?
Why should I not be impatient? ( E )
5 Look at me and be appalled;
clap your hand over your mouth. ( F )
6 When I think about this, I am terrified; ( G )
trembling seizes my body. ( H )
7 Why do the wicked live on,
growing old and increasing in power? ( I )
8 They see their children established around them,
their offspring before their eyes. ( J )
9 Their homes are safe and free from fear; ( K )
the rod of God is not on them. ( L )
10 Their bulls never fail to breed;
their cows calve and do not miscarry. ( M )
11 They send forth their children as a flock; ( N )
their little ones dance about.
12 They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre; ( O )
they make merry to the sound of the pipe. ( P )
13 They spend their years in prosperity ( Q )
and go down to the grave ( R ) in peace. [ a ] ( S )
14 Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone! ( T )
We have no desire to know your ways. ( U )
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
What would we gain by praying to him?’ ( V )
16 But their prosperity is not in their own hands,
so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked. ( W )

17 “Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? ( X )
How often does calamity ( Y ) come upon them,
the fate God allots in his anger? ( Z )
18 How often are they like straw before the wind,
like chaff ( AA ) swept away ( AB ) by a gale? ( AC )
19 It is said, ‘God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.’ ( AD )
Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it! ( AE )
20 Let their own eyes see their destruction; ( AF )
let them drink ( AG ) the cup of the wrath of the Almighty. ( AH )
21 For what do they care about the families they leave behind ( AI )
when their allotted months ( AJ ) come to an end? ( AK )

22 “Can anyone teach knowledge to God, ( AL )
since he judges even the highest? ( AM )
23 One person dies in full vigor, ( AN )
completely secure and at ease, ( AO )
24 well nourished ( AP ) in body, [ b ]
bones ( AQ ) rich with marrow. ( AR )
25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, ( AS )
never having enjoyed anything good.
26 Side by side they lie in the dust, ( AT )
and worms ( AU ) cover them both. ( AV )

27 “I know full well what you are thinking,
the schemes by which you would wrong me.
28 You say, ‘Where now is the house of the great, ( AW )
the tents where the wicked lived?’ ( AX )
29 Have you never questioned those who travel?
Have you paid no regard to their accounts—
30 that the wicked are spared from the day of calamity, ( AY )
that they are delivered from [ c ] the day of wrath? ( AZ )
31 Who denounces their conduct to their face?
Who repays them for what they have done? ( BA )
32 They are carried to the grave,
and watch is kept over their tombs. ( BB )
33 The soil in the valley is sweet to them; ( BC )
everyone follows after them,
and a countless throng goes [ d ] before them. ( BD )

34 “So how can you console me ( BE ) with your nonsense?
Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!” ( BF )

Footnotes

  1. Job 21:13 Or in an instant
  2. Job 21:24 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  3. Job 21:30 Or wicked are reserved for the day of calamity, / that they are brought forth to
  4. Job 21:33 Or them, / as a countless throng went
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