Job 21

Job · Chapter 21

Job 21:4

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
4As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?Is my complaint against a man? Then why should I not be impatient?As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?

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
¿ Iהֶ֭אָנֹכִיHE-'a-no-khiH0595
I

אָֽנֹכִ֫י (a.no.khi) I (first pers. sing.) Another spelling of a.ni (אֲנִי, אָֽנֹכִ֫י "I" H0589)

to humankindלְאָדָ֣םle-'a-DAMH0120G
man

אָדָם (a.dam) 1) man, mankind 1a) man, human being 1b) man, mankind (much more frequently intended sense in OT) 1c) Adam, first man 1d) city in Jordan valley

[is] complaint myשִׂיחִ֑יsi-CHIH7879
complaint

שִׂיחַ (si.ach) 1) meditation, complaint, musing 1a) plaint, complaint 1b) following are uncertain 1b1) musing 1b2) anxiety, trouble 1b3) talk

and ifוְאִם־ve-'im-H0518HNo entry
why?מַ֝דּ֗וּעַma-DU-a'H4069
why?

מַדּוּעַ (mad.du.a) why?, on what account?, wherefore?

notלֹא־lo'-H3808
not

לֹא (lo) 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

will it be shortתִקְצַ֥רtik-TZARH7114A
be short

קָצֵר (qa.tser) 1) to be short, be impatient, be vexed, be grieved 1a) (Qal) to be short 1b) (Piel) to shorten 1c) (Hiphil) to shorten

spirit myרוּחִֽי׃ru-CHIH7307J
spirit

רוּחַ (ru.ach) : spirit 1) wind, breath, mind, spirit 1a) breath 1b) wind 1b1) of heaven 1b2) quarter (of wind), side 1b3) breath of air 1b4) air, gas 1b5) vain, empty thing 1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation) 1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour 1c2) courage 1c3) temper, anger 1c4) impatience, patience 1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented) 1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse 1c7) prophetic spirit 1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals) …

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