K6 T¹ 1-6. Appeal to his friends.
U¹ 7-26. Contrasted cases. The wicked [vv.7-21].
The good [vv.22-26.]
T² 27-29. Appeal to his friends.
U² 30-33. Contrasted cases. The wicked: in life [vv.30,31.]
in death [vv.32,33.]
T³ 34. Appeal to his friends.
1656 B.C.
Job 21)
1 But Job replied and said,
2 "Hear diligently (see 13:17) my speech, and let this be your consolations.
3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock [you] on. (As if pointing to him.)
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not myself be troubled?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth. (A token of having no answer.)
6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling takes hold on my flesh.
U¹ g¹ 7-16. Prosperity. The wicked.
h¹ 17-21. Adversity. "
g² 22-24. Prosperity. The good
h² 25,26. Adversity. "
U² g³ 30,31. Prosperity in life. The wicked.
h³ 32,33. Prosperity in death. "
7 Wherefore do the lawless live, become old, yes, are mighty in power?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are in peace, neither is the rod of GOD (Eloah) upon them.
10 Ech bull genders, and fails not; their cow calves, and cast not her calf.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their lads dance.
12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of a wind instrument (see Gen. 4:21. Ps 150:4).
13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment get dashed to the grave.
14 Therefore they say to GOD, 'Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Your ways.
15 What is The Almighty (Shaddai), that we should serve Him? and what profit should we have, if we pray to Him?'
16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 How often is the lamp of the lawless put out! and how often comes their destruction upon them! How often He distributes sorrows in His anger.
18 [How often] they are as crushed straw before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.
19 [How often] GOD lays up his iniquity for his sons (i.e. the lawless ones sons): He rewards 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 has 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 judges those that are high.
23 One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His skin bottles are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats 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 you wrongfully imagine against me.
28 For you say, 'Where is the house of the noble? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?'
29 Have you not asked them that go by the way? and do you not know their tokens,
30 [They say] 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 has done?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the sepulchre, and shall remain in the sepulchral mound.
33 The soft clods of the valley shall be sweet to him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
34 How then comfort you me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains perverseness?