Job 21

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Job spoke next. He said:	1 Then Job answered, and said:
2 Listen careful y to my words; let this be the consolation you allow me.	2 Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance.
3 Permit me to speak in my turn; you may jeer when I have spoken.	3 Suffer me, and I will speak, and after, if you please, laugh at my words.
4 Is my complaint just about a fellow-mortal? I have good grounds to be perturbed!	4 Is my debate against man, that I should not have just reason to be troubled?
5 Give your attention to me; you wil be dumbfounded and wil place your hand over your mouth.	5 Hearken to me and be astonished, and lay your finger on your mouth.
6 I myself am appalled at the very thought, and my flesh creeps.	6 As for me, when I remember, I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Why do the wicked stil live on, their power increasing with their age?	7 Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?
8 They see their posterity assured, and their offspring secure before their eyes.	8 Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of children's children in their sight.
9 The peace of their houses has nothing to fear, the rod that God wields is not for them.	9 Their houses are secure and peaceable, and the rod of God is not upon them.
10 No mishap with their bull at breeding-time, nor miscarriage with their cow at calving.	10 Their cattle have conceived, and failed not: their cow has calved, and is not deprived of her fruit.
11 They let their infants frisk like lambs, their children dance like deer.	11 Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children dance and play.
12 They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.	12 They take the timbrel, and the harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
13 They end their lives in happiness and go down in peace to Sheol.	13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to hell.
14 Yet these are the ones who say to God, 'Go away! We do not want to learn your ways.	14 Who have said to God: Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
15 What is the point of our serving Shaddai? What should we gain from praying to him?'	15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what doth it profit us if we pray to him?
16 Surely they have won their own prosperity, since God is kept so far from their plans?	16 Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may the counsel of the wicked be far from me.
17 Do we often see the light of the wicked put out, or disaster overtake him, or the retribution of Goddestroy his possessions,	17 How often shall the lamp of the wicked be put out, and a deluge come upon them, and he shall distribute the sorrows of his wrath?
18 or the wind blow him away like a straw, or a whirlwind carry him off like chaff?	18 They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes which the whirlwind scattereth.
19 So God is storing up punishment for his children? But the wicked himself should be punished, andshould know it!	19 God shall lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: and when he shall repay, then shall he know.
20 He himself should witness his own ruin, and himself drink the anger of Shaddai.	20 His eyes shall see his own destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 Once he is gone, what joy can he gain from his family, once the number of his months has been cutoff?	21 For what is it to him what befalleth his house after him: and if the number of his months be diminished by one half?
22 But who can teach wisdom to God, to him who is judge of those on high?	22 Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?
23 And again: one person dies in the ful ness of strength, in all possible happiness and ease,	23 One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy.
24 thighs padded with fat and the marrow in the bones good and moist.	24 His bowels are full of fat, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 Another dies in bitterness of heart, never having tasted happiness.	25 But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches:
26 They lie together down in the dust and the worms soon cover them both.	26 And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.
27 Oh, I know what is in your minds, what you so spiteful y think about me!	27 Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against me.
28 'What has become of the great lord's house,' you say, 'where is the tent where the wicked used tolive?'	28 For you say: Where is the house of the prince ? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 Have you never questioned people who travel, do you not understand the testimony they give:	29 Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things.
30 on the day of disaster, the wicked is spared, on the day of retribution, he is kept safe?	30 Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, and he shall be brought to the day of wrath.
31 And who is there then to reproach him for his deeds and to pay him back for the things he has done?	31 Who shall reprove his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 He is carried away to the cemetery, and a watch is kept at his tomb.	32 He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the heap of the dead.
33 The clods of the ravine lie easy on him, and the whole population walk behind.	33 He hath been acceptable to the gravel of Cocytus, and he shall draw every man after him, and there are innumerable before him.
34 So what sense is there in your empty consolation? your answers are the left-overs of infidelity!	34 How then do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewn to be repugnant to truth ?