Job 21

21Listen to what I am saying;H347H6030H5592that is all the comfort I ask from you.H8085H8085H4405H85753Give me a chance to speak and then, when I am through, sneer if you like.H5375H1696H310H1696H39324My quarrel is not with mortals; I have good reason to be impatient.H7879H120H7307H71145Look at me. Isn't that enough to make you stare in shocked silence?H6437H8074H7760H3027H63106When I think of what has happened to me, I am stunned, and I tremble and shake.H2142H926H6427H270H13207Why does God let evil people live, let them grow old and prosper?H7563H2421H6275H1396H24288They have children and grandchildren, and live to watch them all grow up.H2233H3559H6440H6631H58699God does not bring disaster on their homes; they never have to live in terror.H1004H7965H6343H7626H43310Yes, all their cattle breed and give birth without trouble.H7794H5674H1602H6510H6403H792111Their children run and play like lambsH7971H5759H6629H3206H754012and dance to the music of harps and flutes.H5375H8596H3658H8055H6963H574813They live out their lives in peace and quietly die without suffering.H3615H1086H3117H2896H7281H2865H5181H758514The wicked tell God to leave them alone; they don't want to know his will for their lives.H559H410H5493H2654H1847H187015They think there is no need to serve God nor any advantage in praying to him.H7706H5647H3276H629316They claim they succeed by their own strength, but their way of thinking I can't accept.H2898H3027H6098H7563H736817Was a wicked person's light ever put out? Did one of them ever meet with disaster? Did God ever punish the wicked in angerH5216H7563H1846H935H343H2505H2256H63918and blow them away like straw in the wind, or like dust carried away in a storm?H8401H6440H7307H4671H5492H158919You claim God punishes a child for the sins of his father. No! Let God punish the sinners themselves; let him show that he does it because of {\I their sins.H433H6845H205H1121H7999H304520Let sinners bear their own punishment; let them feel the wrath of Almighty God.H5869H7200H3589H8354H2534H770621When our lives are over, do we really care whether our children are happy?H2656H1004H310H4557H2320H268622Can anyone teach God, who judges even those in high places?H3925H410H1847H8199H731123Some people stay healthy till the day they die;H4191H8537H6106H7946H796124they die happy and at ease, their bodies well-nourished.H5845H4390H2461H6106H8248H422125Others have no happiness at all; they live and die with bitter hearts.H4191H4751H5315H398H289626But all alike die and are buried; they all are covered with worms.H7901H3162H6083H7415H368027I know what spiteful thoughts you have.H3045H4284H4209H255428You ask, "Where are the homes of great people now, those who practiced evil?"H559H1004H5081H4908H168H756329Haven't you talked with people who travel? Don't you know the reports they bring back?H7592H5674H1870H5234H22630On the day God is angry and punishes, it is the wicked who are always spared.H7451H2820H3117H343H2986H3117H567831There is no one to accuse the wicked or pay them back for all they have done.H5046H1870H6440H7999H621332When they are carried to the graveyard, to their well-guarded tombs,H2986H6913H8245H143033thousands join the funeral procession, and even the earth lies gently on their bodies.H7263H5158H4985H120H4900H310H4557H644034And you! You try to comfort me with nonsense! Every answer you give is a lie!H5162H1892H8666H7604H4604