| Chapter 21 |
1 |
Then Job answered and said, --
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2 |
Hear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations. --
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3 |
Suffer me, and I also will speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on. --
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4 |
As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient? --
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5 |
Mark me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth. --
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6 |
Even when I remember I am troubled, And horror taketh hold on my flesh. --
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7 |
Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power? --
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8 |
Their seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes. --
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9 |
Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them. --
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10 |
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. --
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11 |
They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance. --
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12 |
They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe. --
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13 |
They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol. --
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14 |
And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. --
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15 |
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? --
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16 |
Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me. --
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17 |
How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity cometh upon them? That [God] distributeth sorrows in his anger? --
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18 |
That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away? --
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19 |
[Ye say], God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it: --
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20 |
Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty. --
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21 |
For what careth he for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off? --
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22 |
Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high? --
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23 |
One dieth in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet: --
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24 |
His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened. --
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25 |
And another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good. --
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26 |
They lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them. --
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27 |
Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me. --
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28 |
For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt? --
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29 |
Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences, --
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30 |
That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath? --
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31 |
Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done? --
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32 |
Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb. --
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33 |
The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him. --
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34 |
How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth [only] falsehood? --
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