The Word Am I

The Book of Job

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 21 -

Job's speech about the wicked

1
Bvt Iob answered, and sayd,
2
Heare diligently my wordes, and this shalbe in stead of your consolations.
3
Suffer mee, that I may speake, and when I haue spoken, mocke on.
4
Doe I direct my talke to man? If it were so, how should not my spirit be troubled?
5
Marke mee, and be abashed, and lay your hand vpon your mouth.
6
Euen when I remember, I am afrayde, and feare taketh hold on my flesh.
7
Wherefore do the wicked liue, and waxe olde, and grow in wealth?
8
Their seede is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes.
9
Their houses are peaceable without feare, and the rod of God is not vpon them.
10
Their bullocke gendreth, and fayleth not: their cow calueth, and casteth not her calfe.
11
They send forth their children like sheepe, and their sonnes dance.
12
They take the tabret and harpe, and reioyce in the sound of the organs.
13
They spend their dayes in wealth, and suddenly they go downe to the graue.
14
They say also vnto God, Depart from vs: for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes.
15
Who is the Almightie, that we should serue him? and what profit should we haue, if we should pray vnto him?
16
Lo, their wealth is not in their hand: therfore let the counsell of the wicked bee farre from me.
17
How oft shall the candle of the wicked be put out? and their destruction come vpon them? he wil deuide their liues in his wrath.
18
They shall be as stubble before the winde, and as chaffe that the storme carieth away.
19
God wil lay vp the sorowe of the father for his children: when he rewardeth him, hee shall knowe it.
20
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drinke of the wrath of the Almightie.
21
For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the nomber of his moneths is cut off?
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Shall any teache God knowledge, who iudgeth the highest things?
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One dyeth in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperitie.
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His breasts are full of milke, and his bones runne full of marowe.
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And another dieth in the bitternes of his soule, and neuer eateth with pleasure.
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They shall sleepe both in the dust, and the wormes shall couer them.
27
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the enterprises, wherewith ye do me wrong.
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For ye say, Where is the princes house? and where is the tabernacle of the wickeds dwelling?
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May ye not aske the that go by the way? and ye can not deny their signes.
30
But the wicked is kept vnto the day of destruction, and they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall reward him for that he hath done?
32
Yet shall he be brought to the graue, and remaine in the heape.
33
The slimie valley shalbe sweete vnto him, and euery man shall draw after him, as before him there were innumerable.
34
How then comfort ye me in vaine, seeing in your answeres there remaine but lyes?

Job's speech about the wicked

1
Then Job answered,
2
“Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
3
Allow me, and I also will speak. After I have spoken, mock on.
4
As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?
5
Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
6
When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
7
“Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
8
Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.
9
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10
Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry.
11
They send out their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
12
They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
13
They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol.(a)
14
They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about your ways.
15
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’
16
Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17
“How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger?
18
How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
19
You say, ‘God lays up his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.
20
Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21
For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22
“Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?
23
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24
His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
25
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
26
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
27
“Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would wrong me.
28
For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
29
Haven’t you asked wayfaring men? Don’t you know their evidences,
30
that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led out to the day of wrath?
31
Who will declare his way to his face? Who will repay him what he has done?
32
Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men will keep watch over the tomb.
33
The clods of the valley will be sweet to him. All men will draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34
So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”

Footnotes

(a)21:13 Sheol is the place of the dead.
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