Job 21:2-4 - Compare All Versions

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“Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you give me. Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, mock on. “Is my complaint directed to a human being? Why should I not be impatient?

“Keep listening to my words, and let this be your comfort. Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on. As for me, is my complaint against man? Why should I not be impatient?

“Listen closely to what I am saying. That’s one consolation you can give me. Bear with me, and let me speak. After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me. “My complaint is with God, not with people. I have good reason to be so impatient.

Pay close attention to my words; let this be the consolation you offer. Bear with me while I speak; then after I have spoken, you may continue mocking. As for me, is my complaint  against a human being? Then why shouldn’t I be impatient?

Hear diligently my speech, And let this be your consolations. Suffer me that I may speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on. As for me, is my complaint to man? And if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

“Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be your consolation. Bear with me that I may speak, And after I have spoken, keep mocking. “As for me, is my complaint against man? And if it were, why should I not be impatient?

Job replied: “Now listen to me carefully, please listen, at least do me the favor of listening. Put up with me while I have my say— then you can mock me later to your heart’s content. “It’s not you I’m complaining to—it’s God. Is it any wonder I’m getting fed up with his silence? Take a good look at me. Aren’t you appalled by what’s happened? No! Don’t say anything. I can do without your comments. When I look back, I go into shock, my body is racked with spasms. Why do the wicked have it so good, live to a ripe old age and get rich? They get to see their children succeed, get to watch and enjoy their grandchildren. Their homes are peaceful and free from fear; they never experience God’s disciplining rod. Their bulls breed with great vigor and their cows calve without fail. They send their children out to play and watch them frolic like spring lambs. They make music with fiddles and flutes, have good times singing and dancing. They have a long life on easy street, and die painlessly in their sleep. They say to God, ‘Get lost! We’ve no interest in you or your ways. Why should we have dealings with God Almighty? What’s there in it for us?’ But they’re wrong, dead wrong—they’re not gods. It’s beyond me how they can carry on like this!

“Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be your way of consolation. “Bear with me that I may speak; Then after I have spoken, you may mock me. “As for me, is my complaint to a mortal? Or why should I not be impatient?

“Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be the consolation. “Bear with me, and I also will speak; And after I have spoken, you may [continue to] mock [me]. “As for me, is my complaint to man or about him? And why should I not be impatient and my spirit troubled?

“Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you offer me. Bear with me and I will speak, and after I have spoken you may mock. Is my complaint against a man? If so, why should I not be impatient?