Job 21

Job’s Reply to Zophar

21Then Job answered:H347H6030H5592Pay close attention to my words; let this be the consolation you offer.H8085H8085H4405H85753Bear with me while I speak; then after I have spoken, you may continue mocking.H5375H1696H310H1696H39324As for me, is my complaint against a man? Then why shouldn't I be impatient?H7879H120H7307H71145Look at me and shudder; put [your] hand over [your] mouth.H6437H8074H7760H3027H63106When I think about [it], I am terrified and my body trembles in horror.H2142H926H6427H270H13207Why do the wicked continue to live, growing old and becoming powerful?H7563H2421H6275H1396H24288Their children are established while they are still alive, and their descendants, before their eyes.H2233H3559H6440H6631H58699Their homes are secure and free of fear; no rod from God [strikes] them.H1004H7965H6343H7626H43310Their bulls breed without fail; their cows calve and do not miscarry.H7794H5674H1602H6510H6403H792111They let their little ones run around like lambs; their children skip about,H7971H5759H6629H3206H754012singing to the tambourine and lyre and rejoicing at the sound of the flute.H5375H8596H3658H8055H6963H574813They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace.H3615H1086H3117H2896H7281H2865H5181H758514Yet they say to God: "Leave us alone! We don't want to know Your ways.H559H410H5493H2654H1847H187015Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what will we gain by pleading with Him?"H7706H5647H3276H629316But their prosperity is not of their own doing. The counsel of the wicked is far from me!H2898H3027H6098H7563H736817How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come on them? Does He apportion destruction in His anger?H5216H7563H1846H935H343H2505H2256H63918Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff a storm sweeps away?H8401H6440H7307H4671H5492H158919God reserves a person's punishment for his children. Let God repay the person himself, so that he may know [it].H433H6845H205H1121H7999H304520Let his own eyes see his demise; let him drink from the Almighty's wrath!H5869H7200H3589H8354H2534H770621For what does he care about his family once he is dead, when the number of his months has run out?H2656H1004H310H4557H2320H268622Can anyone teach God knowledge, since He judges the exalted ones?H3925H410H1847H8199H731123One person dies in excellent health, completely secure and at ease.H4191H8537H6106H7946H796124His body is well-fed, and his bones are full of marrow.H5845H4390H2461H6106H8248H422125Yet another person dies with a bitter soul, having never tasted prosperity.H4191H4751H5315H398H289626But they both lie in the dust, and worms cover them.H7901H3162H6083H7415H368027Look, I know your thoughts, the schemes you would wrong me with.H3045H4284H4209H255428For you say, "Where now is the nobleman's house?" and "Where are the tents the wicked lived in?"H559H1004H5081H4908H168H756329Have you never consulted those who travel the roads? Don't you accept their reports?H7592H5674H1870H5234H22630Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of disaster, rescued from the day of wrath.H7451H2820H3117H343H2986H3117H567831Who would denounce his behavior to his face? Who would repay him for what he has done?H5046H1870H6440H7999H621332He is carried to the grave, and someone keeps watch over [his] tomb.H2986H6913H8245H143033The dirt on his grave is sweet to him. Everyone follows behind him, and those who go before him are without number.H7263H5158H4985H120H4900H310H4557H644034So how can you offer me such futile comfort? Your answers are deceptive.H5162H1892H8666H7604H4604