^21:1 Then Job answered and said, ^21:2 Hear diligently my speech, And let this be your^* consolations. ^21:3 Allow me and I also will speak and after I have spoken, mock on. ^21:4 As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient? ^21:5 Mark me and be astonished and lay your^* hand upon your^* mouth.

    ^21:6 Even when I remember, I am troubled and horror takes hold on my flesh. ^21:7 Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, grow mighty in power? ^21:8Their seed is established with them in their sight and their offspring before their eyes. ^21:9 Their houses are safe from fear, nor is the rod of God upon them. ^21:10Their bull breeds and does not fail. Their cow brings forth safely and does not miscarry.^21:11 They send forth their little ones like a flock and their children dance. ^21:12 They sing to the timbrel and harp and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

    ^21:13 They spend their days in prosperity and in a moment they go down to Sheol.

    ^21:14 And they say to God, Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of your ways. ^21:15 What is the Almighty that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray to him?

    ^21:16 Behold, is their prosperity not in their hand. (The counsel of the wicked is far from me.) ^21:17 How often is it that the lamp of the profane is put out, that their calamity comes upon them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger, ^21:18 that they are as stubble before the wind and as chaff that the storm carries away?

    ^21:19 You^* say, God lays up his wickedness for his sons. Let him recompense it to himself that he may know it. ^21:20 Let his own eyes see his destruction and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty. ^21:21 For what does he care for his house after him when the number of his months is cut off?

    ^21:22 Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing he judges those who are high? ^21:23 One man dies in his full strength, being entirely at ease and quiet. ^21:24 His pails are full of milk and the marrow of his bones is moistened. ^21:25 And another man dies in bitterness of soul and never tastes of good. ^21:26 They lie down alike in the dust and the worm covers them.

    ^21:27 Behold, I know your^* thoughts and the devices with which you^* would wrong me. ^21:28 For you^* say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent in which the wicked dwelt?

    ^21:29 Have you^* not asked wayfaring men? And do you^* not know their evidences, ^21:30 that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath? ^21:31 Who will declare his way to his face? And who will repay him what he has done?

    ^21:32 Yet he will be borne to the grave and men will keep watch over the tomb. ^21:33 The clods of the valley will be sweet to him. And all men will draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.

    ^21:34 How then you^* comfort me in vain, seeing in your^* answers there remains falsehood?