Job 21

Job · Chapter 21

Job 21:15

1But Job answered and said,2Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.3Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.4As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?5Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.6Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.7Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?8Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.9Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.11They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.12They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.13They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.14Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?16Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.18They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.19God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.20His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.21For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?22Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.23One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.24His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.25And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.26They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.28For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?29Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,30That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.31Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?32Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.33The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.34How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
what?מַה־mah-H4100
what

מָא (ma) 1) what, whatever 1a) what? 1b) whatever, what, whatsoever 1c) how?, why?, wherefore? (with prefixes)

[is the] Almightyשַׁדַּ֥יsha-DAIH7706
Almighty

שַׁדַּי (shad.day) Shaddai, the Almighty (God) Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) This name means almighty, most powerful

thatכִּֽי־ki-H3588A
for

כִּי (ki) 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

we will serve himנַֽעַבְדֶ֑נּוּna-'av-DE-nuH5647H
to serve

עָבַד (a.vad) : serve[someone] 1) to work, serve 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to labour, work, do work 1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour 1a3) to serve as subjects 1a4) to serve (God) 1a5) to serve (with Levitical service) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land) 1b2) to make oneself a servant 1c) (Pual) to be worked 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to compel to labour or work, cause to labour, cause to serve 1d2) to cause to serve as subjects 1e) (Hophal) to be led or enticed to serve

and what?וּמַה־u-mah-H4100
what

מָא (ma) 1) what, whatever 1a) what? 1b) whatever, what, whatsoever 1c) how?, why?, wherefore? (with prefixes)

will we gainנּ֝וֹעִ֗ילno-'ILH3276
to gain

יָעַל (ya.al) (Hiphil) to gain, profit, benefit, avail

thatכִּ֣יkiH3588A
for

כִּי (ki) 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

we will entreatנִפְגַּע־nif-ga'-H6293
to fall on

פָּגַע (pa.ga) 1) to encounter, meet, reach, entreat, make intercession 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to meet, light upon, join 1a2) to meet (of kindness) 1a3) to encounter, fall upon (of hostility) 1a4) to encounter, entreat (of request) 1a5) to strike, touch (of boundary) 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to light upon 1b2) to cause to entreat 1b3) to make entreaty, interpose 1b4) to make attack 1b5) to reach the mark

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.