Parallel Bible results for "job 21"

Job 21

The Bible in Basic English BBE

1 Then Job made answer and said,

2 Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.

3 Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.

4 As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?

5 Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.

6 At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.

7 Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?

8 Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

9 Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.

10 Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.

11 They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,

12 They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.

13 Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld.

14 Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.

15 What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?

16 Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)

17 How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords?

18 How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?

19 You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it!

20 Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!

21 For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?

22 Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.

23 One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:

24 His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.

25 And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.

26 Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.

27 See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;

28 For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?

29 Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?

30 How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?

31 Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?

32 He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.

33 The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.

34 Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit?

New International Version NIV

1 Then Job replied:

2 “Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you give me.

3 Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.

4 “Is my complaint directed to a human being? Why should I not be impatient?

5 Look at me and be appalled; clap your hand over your mouth.

6 When I think about this, I am terrified; trembling seizes my body.

7 Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?

8 They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes.

9 Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not on them.

10 Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry.

11 They send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about.

12 They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre; they make merry to the sound of the pipe.

13 They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.

14 Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways.

15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?’

16 But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.

17 “Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does calamity come upon them, the fate God allots in his anger?

18 How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a gale?

19 It is said, ‘God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.’ Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it!

20 Let their own eyes see their destruction; let them drink the cup of the wrath of the Almighty.

21 For what do they care about the families they leave behind when their allotted months come to an end?

22 “Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?

23 One person dies in full vigor, completely secure and at ease,

24 well nourished in body,bones rich with marrow.

25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good.

26 Side by side they lie in the dust, and worms cover them both.

27 “I know full well what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me.

28 You say, ‘Where now is the house of the great, the tents where the wicked lived?’

29 Have you never questioned those who travel? Have you paid no regard to their accounts—

30 that the wicked are spared from the day of calamity, that they are delivered from the day of wrath?

31 Who denounces their conduct to their face? Who repays them for what they have done?

32 They are carried to the grave, and watch is kept over their tombs.

33 The soil in the valley is sweet to them; everyone follows after them, and a countless throng goes before them.

34 “So how can you console me with your nonsense? Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!”