<h3>Job’s Seventh Speech: A Response to Zophar</h3>21 Then Job spoke again:<poetry> 2 <poetry>“Listen closely to what I am saying. <indent>That’s one consolation you can give me.</indent> </poetry> 3 <poetry>Bear with me, and let me speak. <indent>After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.</indent><poetry></poetry> 4 <poetry>“My complaint is with God, not with people. <indent>I have good reason to be so impatient.</indent> </poetry> 5 <poetry>Look at me and be stunned. <indent>Put your hand over your mouth in shock.</indent> </poetry> 6 <poetry>When I think about what I am saying, I shudder. <indent>My body trembles.</indent><poetry></poetry> 7 <poetry>“Why do the wicked prosper, <indent>growing old and powerful?</indent> </poetry> 8 <poetry>They live to see their children grow up and settle down, <indent>and they enjoy their grandchildren.</indent> </poetry> 9 <poetry>Their homes are safe from every fear, <indent>and God does not punish them.</indent> </poetry> 10 <poetry>Their bulls never fail to breed. <indent>Their cows bear calves and never miscarry.</indent> </poetry> 11 <poetry>They let their children frisk about like lambs. <indent>Their little ones skip and dance.</indent> </poetry> 12 <poetry>They sing with tambourine and harp. <indent>They celebrate to the sound of the flute.</indent> </poetry> 13 <poetry>They spend their days in prosperity, <indent>then go down to the grave in peace.</indent> </poetry> 14 <poetry>And yet they say to God, ‘Go away. <indent>We want no part of you and your ways.</indent> </poetry> 15 <poetry>Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him? <indent>What good will it do us to pray?’</indent> </poetry> 16 <poetry>(They think their prosperity is of their own doing, <indent>but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)</indent><poetry></poetry> 17 <poetry>“Yet the light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished. <indent>Do they ever have trouble?</indent> <indent>Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger?</indent> </poetry> 18 <poetry>Are they driven before the wind like straw? <indent>Are they carried away by the storm like chaff?</indent> <indent>Not at all!</indent><poetry></poetry> 19 <poetry>“‘Well,’ you say, ‘at least God will punish their children!’ <indent>But I say he should punish the ones who sin,</indent> <indent>so that they understand his judgment.</indent> </poetry> 20 <poetry>Let them see their destruction with their own eyes. <indent>Let them drink deeply of the anger of the Almighty.</indent> </poetry> 21 <poetry>For they will not care what happens to their family <indent>after they are dead.</indent><poetry></poetry> 22 <poetry>“But who can teach a lesson to God, <indent>since he judges even the most powerful?</indent> </poetry> 23 <poetry>One person dies in prosperity, <indent>completely comfortable and secure,</indent> </poetry> 24 <poetry>the picture of good health, <indent>vigorous and fit.</indent> </poetry> 25 <poetry>Another person dies in bitter poverty, <indent>never having tasted the good life.</indent> </poetry> 26 <poetry>But both are buried in the same dust, <indent>both eaten by the same maggots.</indent><poetry></poetry> 27 <poetry>“Look, I know what you’re thinking. <indent>I know the schemes you plot against me.</indent> </poetry> 28 <poetry>You will tell me of rich and wicked people <indent>whose houses have vanished because of their sins.</indent> </poetry> 29 <poetry>But ask those who have been around, <indent>and they will tell you the truth.</indent> </poetry> 30 <poetry>Evil people are spared in times of calamity <indent>and are allowed to escape disaster.</indent> </poetry> 31 <poetry>No one criticizes them openly <indent>or pays them back for what they have done.</indent> </poetry> 32 <poetry>When they are carried to the grave, <indent>an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.</indent> </poetry> 33 <poetry>A great funeral procession goes to the cemetery. <indent>Many pay their respects as the body is laid to rest,</indent> <indent>and the earth gives sweet repose.</indent><poetry></poetry> 34 <poetry>“How can your empty clichés comfort me? <indent>All your explanations are lies!”</indent></poetry>

Job’s Seventh Speech: A Response to Zophar

Job 21:1

“Listen closely to what I am saying. <indent>That’s one consolation you can give me.</indent>

Job 21:2

Bear with me, and let me speak. <indent>After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.</indent><pb/><poetry>

Job 21:3

“My complaint is with God, not with people. <indent>I have good reason to be so impatient.</indent>

Job 21:4

Look at me and be stunned. <indent>Put your hand over your mouth in shock.</indent>

Job 21:5

When I think about what I am saying, I shudder. <indent>My body trembles.</indent><pb/><poetry>

Job 21:6

“Why do the wicked prosper, <indent>growing old and powerful?</indent>

Job 21:7

They live to see their children grow up and settle down, <indent>and they enjoy their grandchildren.</indent>

Job 21:8

Their homes are safe from every fear, <indent>and God does not punish them.</indent>

Job 21:9

Their bulls never fail to breed. <indent>Their cows bear calves and never miscarry.</indent>

Job 21:10

They let their children frisk about like lambs. <indent>Their little ones skip and dance.</indent>

Job 21:11

They sing with tambourine and harp. <indent>They celebrate to the sound of the flute.</indent>

Job 21:12

They spend their days in prosperity, <indent>then go down to the grave<ft>1</ft> in peace.</indent>

Job 21:13

And yet they say to God, ‘Go away. <indent>We want no part of you and your ways.</indent>

Job 21:14

Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him? <indent>What good will it do us to pray?’</indent>

Job 21:15

(They think their prosperity is of their own doing, <indent>but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)</indent><pb/><poetry>

Job 21:16

“Yet the light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished. <indent>Do they ever have trouble?</indent> <indent>Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger?</indent>

Job 21:17

Are they driven before the wind like straw? <indent>Are they carried away by the storm like chaff?</indent> <indent>Not at all!</indent><pb/><poetry>

Job 21:18

“‘Well,’ you say, ‘at least God will punish their children!’ <indent>But I say he should punish the ones who sin,</indent> <indent>so that they understand his judgment.</indent>

Job 21:19

Let them see their destruction with their own eyes. <indent>Let them drink deeply of the anger of the Almighty.</indent>

Job 21:20

For they will not care what happens to their family <indent>after they are dead.</indent><pb/><poetry>

Job 21:21

“But who can teach a lesson to God, <indent>since he judges even the most powerful?</indent>

Job 21:22

One person dies in prosperity, <indent>completely comfortable and secure,</indent>

Job 21:23

the picture of good health, <indent>vigorous and fit.</indent>

Job 21:24

Another person dies in bitter poverty, <indent>never having tasted the good life.</indent>

Job 21:25

But both are buried in the same dust, <indent>both eaten by the same maggots.</indent><pb/><poetry>

Job 21:26

“Look, I know what you’re thinking. <indent>I know the schemes you plot against me.</indent>

Job 21:27

You will tell me of rich and wicked people <indent>whose houses have vanished because of their sins.</indent>

Job 21:28

But ask those who have been around, <indent>and they will tell you the truth.</indent>

Job 21:29

Evil people are spared in times of calamity <indent>and are allowed to escape disaster.</indent>

Job 21:30

No one criticizes them openly <indent>or pays them back for what they have done.</indent>

Job 21:31

When they are carried to the grave, <indent>an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.</indent>

Job 21:32

A great funeral procession goes to the cemetery. <indent>Many pay their respects as the body is laid to rest,</indent> <indent>and the earth gives sweet repose.</indent><pb/><poetry>

Job 21:33

“How can your empty clichés comfort me? <indent>All your explanations are lies!”</indent>

Job 21:34

 1 Then Job spoke again:  2 “Listen closely to what I am saying. That’s one consolation you can give me.  3 Bear with me, and let me speak. After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.  4 “My complaint is with God, not with people. I have good reason to be so impatient.  5 Look at me and be stunned. Put your hand over your mouth in shock.  6 When I think about what I am saying, I shudder. My body trembles.  7 “Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful?  8 They live to see their children grow up and settle down, and they enjoy their grandchildren.  9 Their homes are safe from every fear, and God does not punish them.  10 Their bulls never fail to breed. Their cows bear calves and never miscarry.  11 They let their children frisk about like lambs. Their little ones skip and dance.  12 They sing with tambourine and harp. They celebrate to the sound of the flute.  13 They spend their days in prosperity, then go down to the grave  in peace.  14 And yet they say to God, ‘Go away. We want no part of you and your ways.  15 Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him? What good will it do us to pray?’  16 (They think their prosperity is of their own doing, but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)  17 “Yet the light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished. Do they ever have trouble? Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger?  18 Are they driven before the wind like straw? Are they carried away by the storm like chaff? Not at all!  19 “‘Well,’ you say, ‘at least God will punish their children!’ But I say he should punish the ones who sin, so that they understand his judgment.  20 Let them see their destruction with their own eyes. Let them drink deeply of the anger of the Almighty.  21 For they will not care what happens to their family after they are dead.  22 “But who can teach a lesson to God, since he judges even the most powerful?  23 One person dies in prosperity, completely comfortable and secure,  24 the picture of good health, vigorous and fit.  25 Another person dies in bitter poverty, never having tasted the good life.  26 But both are buried in the same dust, both eaten by the same maggots.  27 “Look, I know what you’re thinking. I know the schemes you plot against me.  28 You will tell me of rich and wicked people whose houses have vanished because of their sins.  29 But ask those who have been around, and they will tell you the truth.  30 Evil people are spared in times of calamity and are allowed to escape disaster.  31 No one criticizes them openly or pays them back for what they have done.  32 When they are carried to the grave, an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.  33 A great funeral procession goes to the cemetery. Many pay their respects as the body is laid to rest, and the earth gives sweet repose.  34 “How can your empty clichés comfort me? All your explanations are lies!”

From Wikipedia: The New Living Translation (NLT) is an English translation of the Bible. The origin of the NLT came from a project aiming to revise The Living Bible (TLB). This effort eventually led to the creation of the NLT—a new translation separate from the LB. The NLT relies on critical editions of the original Hebrew and Greek texts. The first NLT edition (published in 1996) retains some stylistic influences of the LB, but these are less evident in text revisions that have been published since.




job21 - NLT

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