Job 21
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)Translation
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
1Then Job answered, and said:
1Then Job answered and said:
2Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance.
2Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
3Suffer me, and I will speak, and after, if you please, laugh at my words.
3Suffer me, that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4Is my debate against man, that I should not have just reason to be troubled?
4As for me, is my complaint to man? Or why should I not be impatient?
5Hearken to me and be astonished, and lay your finger on your mouth.
5Turn unto me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6As for me, when I remember, I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
6Even when I remember I am affrighted, and horror hath taketh hold on my flesh.
7Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?
7Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
8Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of children’s children in their sight.
8Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9Their houses are secure and peaceable, and the rod of God is not upon them.
9Their houses are safe, without fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10Their cattle have conceived, and failed not: their cow has calved, and is not deprived of her fruit.
10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children dance and play.
11They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12They take the timbrel, and the harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
12They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
13They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to hell.
13They spend their days in prosperity, and peacefully they go down to the grave.
14Who have said to God: Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
14Yet they said unto God: 'Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways.
15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what doth it profit us if we pray to him?
15What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?' —
16Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may the counsel of the wicked be far from me.
16Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand; the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17How often shall the lamp of the wicked be put out, and a deluge come upon them, and he shall distribute the sorrows of his wrath?
17How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? that their calamity cometh upon them? that He distributeth pains in His anger?
18They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes which the whirlwind scattereth.
18That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm stealeth away?
19God shall lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: and when he shall repay, then shall he know.
19'God layeth up his iniquity for his children!' — let Him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.
20His eyes shall see his own destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
20Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21For what is it to him what befalleth his house after him: and if the number of his months be diminished by one half?
21For what pleasure hath he in his house after him? seeing the number of his months is determined.
22Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?
22Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing it is He that judgeth those that are high.
23One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy.
23One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24His bowels are full of fat, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
24His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
25But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches:
25And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted of good.
26And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.
26They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
27Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against me.
27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28For you say: Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
28For ye say: 'Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?'
29Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things.
29Have ye not asked them that go by the way; and will ye misdeem their tokens,
30Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, and he shall be brought to the day of wrath.
30That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led forth to the day of wrath?
31Who shall reprove his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
31But who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?
32He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the heap of the dead.
32For he is borne to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.
33He hath been acceptable to the gravel of Cocytus, and he shall draw every man after him, and there are innumerable before him.
33The clods of the valley are sweet unto him, and all men draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34How then do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewn to be repugnant to truth?
34How then comfort ye me in vain? And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness?
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