Job 21 — American Standard Version

Then Job answered and said,● Hear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations.● Suffer me, and I also will speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on.● As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?● Mark me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth.● Even when I remember I am troubled, And horror taketh hold on my flesh.● Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?● Their seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.● Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.● Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.● They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.● They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.● They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol.● And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.● What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?● Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me.● 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?● That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?● `Ye say', God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it:● Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.● For what careth he for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off?● Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?● One dieth in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet:● His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened.● And another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good.● They lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them.● Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me.● For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?● Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences,● That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?● Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?● Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb.● The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him.● How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth `only' falsehood?●