Job 21

1 Thou shalt call me, and I will answer thee: to the work of thy hands thou shalt reach out thy right hand. 2 Thou indeed hast numbered my steps, but spare my sins. 3 Thou hast sealed up my offences as it were in a bag, but hast cured my iniquity. 4 A mountain falling cometh to nought, and a rock is removed out of its place. 5 Waters wear away the stones, and with inundation the ground by little and little is washed away: so in like manner thou shalt destroy man. 6 Thou hast strengthened him for a little while, that he may pass away for ever: thou shalt change his face, and shalt send him away. 7 Whether his children come to honour or dishonour, he shall not understand. 8 But yet his flesh, while he shall live, shall have pain, and his soul shall mourn over him. 10 And Eliphaz the Themanite, answered, and said: 11 Will a wise man answer as if he were speaking in the wind, and fill his stomach with burning heat? 12 Thou reprovest him by words, who is not equal to thee, and thou speakest that which is not good for thee. 13 As much as is in thee, thou hast made void fear, and hast taken away prayers from before God. 14 For thy iniquity hath taught thy mouth, and thou imitatest the tongue of blasphemers. 15 Thy own mouth shall condemn thee, and not I: and thy own lips shall answer thee. 16 Art thou the first man that was born, or wast thou made before the hills? 17 Hast thou heard God’s counsel, and shall his wisdom be inferior to thee? 18 What knowest thou that we are ignorant of? what dost thou understand that we know not? 19 There are with us also aged and ancient men, much elder than thy fathers. 20 Is it a great matter that God should comfort thee? but thy wicked words hinder this. 21 Why doth thy heart elevate thee, and why dost thou stare with thy eyes, as if they were thinking great things? 22 Why doth thy spirit swell against God, to utter such words out of thy mouth? 23 What is man that he should be without spot, and he that is born of a woman that he should appear just? 24 Behold among his saints none is unchangeable, and the heavens are not pure in his sight. 25 How much more is man abominable, and unprofitable, who drinketh iniquity like water? 26 I will shew thee, hear me: and I will tell thee what I have seen. 27 Wise men confess and hide not their fathers. 28 To whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger hath passed among them. 29 The wicked man is proud all his days, and the number of the years of his tyranny is uncertain. 30 The sound of dread is always in his ears: and when there is peace, he always suspecteth treason. 31 He believeth not that he may return from darkness to light, looking round about for the sword on every side. 32 When he moveth himself to seek bread, he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand. 33 Tribulation shall terrify him, and distress shall surround him, as a king that is prepared for the battle. 34 For he hath stretched out his hand against God, and hath strengthened himself against the Almighty.