Job Chapter 21
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
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Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
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Should not the multitude of words be answered?
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And should a man full of talk be justified?
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Should thy boastings make men hold their peace?
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And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
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For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure,
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And I am clean in thine eyes.
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But oh that God would speak,
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And open his lips against thee,
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And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom!
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For he is manifold in understanding.
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Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
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Canst thou by searching find out God?
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Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
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It is high as heaven; what canst thou do?
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Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?
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The measure thereof is longer than the earth,
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And broader than the sea.
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If he pass through, and shut up,
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And call unto judgment, then who can hinder him?
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For he knoweth false men:
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He seeth iniquity also, even though he consider it not.
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But vain man is void of understanding,
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Yea, man is born
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as a wild ass’s colt.
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If thou set thy heart aright,
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And stretch out thy hands toward him;
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If iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away,
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And let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents.
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Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot;
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Yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
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For thou shalt forget thy misery;
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Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away,
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And
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
And Job answered and said,
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Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations.
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Suffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on!
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As for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient?
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Mark me, and be astonished, and lay the hand upon the mouth.
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Even when I think [thereon], I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
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Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power?
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Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
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Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod ofGod upon them.
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Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
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They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
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They shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
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They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment go down to Sheol.
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And they say untoGod, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
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What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?
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Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked be far from me!
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How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and cometh their calamity upon them? Doth he distribute sorrows [to them] in his anger?
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Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
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God layeth up [the punishment of] his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it]:
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His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the fury of the Almighty.
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For what pleasure should he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
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Can any teachGod knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.
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One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
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His sides are full of fat, and the marrow of his bones is moistened;
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And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good:
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Together they lie down in the dust, and the worms cover them.
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Lo, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me.
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For ye say, Where is the house of the noble? and where the tent of the dwellings of the wicked?
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Have ye not asked the wayfarers? and do ye not regard their tokens:
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That the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to the day of wrath.
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Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
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Yet is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb.
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The clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable before him.
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How then comfort ye me in vain? Your answers remain perfidious.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
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But Job answered and said,
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Hear ye, hear ye my words, that I may not have this consolation from you.
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Raise me, and I will speak; then ye shall not laugh me to scorn.
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What! is my reproof of man? and why should I not be angry?
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Look upon me, and wonder, laying your hand upon your cheek.
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For even when I remember, I am alarmed, and pains seize my flesh.
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Wherefore do the ungodly live, and grow old even in wealth?
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Their seed is according to [their] desire, and their children are in [their] sight.
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Their houses are prosperous, neither [have they] any where [cause for] fear, neither is there a scourge from the Lord upon them.
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Their cow does not cast her calf, and their [beast] with young is safe, and does not miscarry.
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And they remain as an unfailing flock, and their children play before [them], taking up the psaltery and harp;
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and they rejoice at the voice of a song.
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And they spend their days in wealth, and fall asleep in the rest of the grave.
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Yet [such a man] says to the Lord, Depart from me; I desire not to know thy ways.
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What is the Mighty One, that we should serve him? and what profit is there that we should approach him?
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For their good things were in [their] hands, but he regards not the works of the ungodly.
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Nevertheless, the lamp of the ungodly also shall be put out, and destruction shall come upon them, and pangs of vengeance shall seize them.
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And they shall be as chaff before the wind, or as dust which the storm has taken up.
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Let his substance fail [to supply] his children: [God] shall recompense him, and he shall know it.
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Let his eyes see his own destruction, and let him not be saved by the Lord.
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For his desire is in his house with him, and the number of his months has been suddenly cut off.
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Is it not the Lord who teaches understanding and knowledge? and does not he judge murders?
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One shall die in his perfect strength, and wholly at ease and prosperous;
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and his inwards are full of fat, and his marrow is diffused [throughout him].
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And another dies in bitterness of soul, not eating any good thing.
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But they lie down in the earth together, and corruption covers them.
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So I know you, that ye presumptuously attack me:
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so that ye will say, Where is the house of the prince? and where is the covering of the tabernacles of the ungodly?
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Ask those that go by the way, and do not disown their tokens.
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For the wicked hastens to the day of destruction: they shall be led away for the day of his vengeance.
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Who will tell him his way to his face, whereas he has done [it]? who shall recompense him?
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And he has been led away to the tombs, and he has watched over the heaps.
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The stones of the valley have been sweet to him, and every man shall depart after him, and [there are] innumerable [ones] before him.
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How then do ye comfort me in vain? whereas I have no rest from your molestation.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
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Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
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Audite quæso sermones meos, et agite pœnitentiam.
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Sustinete me, et ego loquar, et post mea, si videbitur, verba ridete.
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Numquid contra hominem disputatio mea est, ut merito non debeam contristari?
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Attendite me, et obstupescite, et superponite digitum ori vestro:
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Et ego quando recordatus fuero, pertimesco, et concutit carnem meam tremor.
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Quare ergo impii vivunt, sublevati sunt, confortatique divitiis?
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Semen eorum permanet coram eis, propinquorum turba, et nepotum in conspectu eorum.
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Domus eorum securæ sunt et pacatæ, et non est virga Dei super illos.
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Bos eorum concepit, et non abortivit: vacca peperit, et non est privata fœtu suo.
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Egrediuntur quasi greges parvuli eorum, et infantes eorum exultant lusibus.
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Tenent tympanum, et citharam, et gaudent ad sonitum organi.
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Ducunt in bonis dies suos, et in puncto ad inferna descendunt.
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Qui dixerunt Deo: Recede a nobis, et scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus.
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Quis est Omnipotens, ut serviamus ei? et quid nobis prodest si oraverimus illum?
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Verumtamen quia non sunt in manu eorum bona sua, consilium impiorum longe sit a me.
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Quoties lucerna impiorum extinguetur, et superveniet eis inundatio, et dolores dividet furoris sui?
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Erunt sicut paleæ ante faciem venti, et sicut favilla quam turbo dispergit.
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Deus servabit filiis illius dolorem patris: et cum reddiderit, tunc sciet.
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Videbunt oculi eius interfectionem suam, et de furore Omnipotentis bibet.
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Quid enim ad eum pertinet de domo sua post se? et si numerus mensium eius dimidietur?
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Numquid Deus docebit quispiam scientiam, qui excelsos iudicat?
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Iste moritur robustus et sanus, dives et felix.
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Viscera eius plena sunt adipe, et medullis ossa illius irrigantur:
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Alius vero moritur in amaritudine animæ absque ullis opibus:
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Et tamen simul in pulvere dormient, et vermes operient eos.
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Certe novi cogitationes vestras, et sententias contra me iniquas.
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Dicitis enim: Ubi est domus principis? et ubi tabernacula impiorum?
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Interrogate quemlibet de viatoribus, et hæc eadem illum intelligere cognoscetis:
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Quia in diem perditionis servatur malus, et ad diem furoris ducetur.
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Quis arguet coram eo viam eius? et quæ fecit, quis reddet illi?
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Ipse ad sepulchra ducetur, et in congerie mortuorum vigilabit.
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Dulcis fuit glareis Cocyti, et post se omnem hominem trahet, et ante se innumerabiles.
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Quomodo igitur consolamini me frustra, cum responsio vestra repugnare ostensa sit veritati?
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
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Then Job answered,
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“Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
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Allow me, and I also will speak. After I have spoken, mock on.
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As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?
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Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
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When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
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“Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
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Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.
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Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
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Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry.
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They send out their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
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They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
13
They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol.
14
They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about your ways.
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What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’
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Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
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“How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger?
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How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
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You say, ‘God lays up his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.
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Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
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For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
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“Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?
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One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
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His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
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Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
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They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
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“Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would wrong me.
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For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
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Haven’t you asked wayfaring men? Don’t you know their evidences,
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that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led out to the day of wrath?
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Who will declare his way to his face? Who will repay him what he has done?
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Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men will keep watch over the tomb.
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The clods of the valley will be sweet to him. All men will draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
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So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
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And Job answereth and saith: --
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Hear ye diligently my word, And this is your consolation.
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Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking--ye may deride.
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I--to man <FI>is<Fi> my complaint? and if <FI>so<Fi> , wherefore May not my temper become short?
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Turn unto me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.
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Yea, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh hath taken fright.
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Wherefore do the wicked live? They have become old, Yea, they have been mighty in wealth.
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Their seed is established, Before their face with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
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Their houses <FI>are<Fi> peace without fear, Nor <FI>is<Fi> a rod of God upon them.
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His bullock hath eaten corn, and doth not loath. His cow bringeth forth safely, And doth not miscarry.
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They send forth as a flock their sucklings, And their children skip,
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They lift <FI>themselves<Fi> up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of an organ.
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They wear out in good their days, And in a moment <FI>to<Fi> Sheol go down.
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And they say to God, `Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Thy ways We have not desired.
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What <FI>is<Fi> the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?'
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Lo, not in their hand <FI>is<Fi> their good, (The counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.)
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How oft is the lamp of the wicked extinguished, And come on them doth their calamity? Pangs He apportioneth in His anger.
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They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a hurricane hath stolen away,
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God layeth up for his sons his sorrow, He giveth recompense unto him--and he knoweth.
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His own eyes see his destruction, And of the wrath of the Mighty he drinketh.
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For what <FI>is<Fi> his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off?
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To God doth <FI>one<Fi> teach knowledge, And He the high doth judge?
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This <FI>one<Fi> dieth in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.
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His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow his bones doth moisten.
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And this <FI>one<Fi> dieth with a bitter soul, And have not eaten with gladness.
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Together--on the dust they lie down, And the worm doth cover them over.
27
Lo, I have known your thoughts, And the devices against me ye do wrongfully.
28
For ye say, `Where <FI>is<Fi> the house of the noble? And where the tent--The tabernacles of the wicked?'
29
Have ye not asked those passing by the way? And their signs do ye not know?
30
That to a day of calamity is the wicked spared. To a day of wrath they are brought.
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Who doth declare to his face his way? And <FI>for<Fi> that which he hath done, Who doth give recompence to him?
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And he--to the graves he is brought. And over the heap a watch is kept.
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Sweet to him have been the clods of the valley, And after him every man he draweth, And before him there is no numbering.
34
And how do ye comfort me <FI>with<Fi> vanity, And in your answers hath been left trespass?
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).