Job 21:27–34

“Behold, I know your thoughts

and your schemes to wrong me.

For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince?

Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’

Have you not asked those who travel the roads,

and do you not accept their testimony

that the evil man is spared in the day of calamity,

that he is rescued in the day of wrath?

Who declares his way to his face,

and who repays him for what he has done?

When he is carried to the grave,

watch is kept over his tomb.

The clods of the valley are sweet to him;

all mankind follows after him,

and those who go before him are innumerable.

How then will you comfort me with empty nothings?

There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.”

“I know full well what you are thinking,

the schemes by which you would wrong me.

You say, ‘Where now is the house of the great,

the tents where the wicked lived?’

Have you never questioned those who travel?

Have you paid no regard to their accounts—

that the wicked are spared from the day of calamity,

that they are delivered from the day of wrath?

Who denounces their conduct to their face?

Who repays them for what they have done?

They are carried to the grave,

and watch is kept over their tombs.

The soil in the valley is sweet to them;

everyone follows after them,

and a countless throng goes before them.

“So how can you console me with your nonsense?

Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!”

I know your thoughts very well,

the schemes by which you would wrong me.

For you say, “Where now is the nobleman’s house?”

and “Where are the tents the wicked lived in?”

Have you never consulted those who travel the roads?

Don’t you accept their reports?

Indeed, the evil person is spared from the day of disaster,

rescued from the day of wrath.

Who would denounce his behavior to his face?

Who would repay him for what he has done?

He is carried to the grave,

and someone keeps watch over his tomb.

The dirt on his grave is sweet to him.

Everyone follows behind him,

and those who go before him are without number.

So how can you offer me such futile comfort?

Your answers are deceptive.

“Look, I know what you’re thinking.

I know the schemes you plot against me.

You will tell me of rich and wicked people

whose houses have vanished because of their sins.

But ask those who have been around,

and they will tell you the truth.

Evil people are spared in times of calamity

and are allowed to escape disaster.

No one criticizes them openly

or pays them back for what they have done.

When they are carried to the grave,

an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.

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.

“How can your empty clichés comfort me?

All your explanations are lies!”

“Look, I know your thoughts

and the schemes you devise against me.

For you say, ‘Where is the nobleman’s house,

and where are the tents in which the wicked dwell?’

Do you not ask those traveling the roads,

and do you not take notice of their accounts?

Indeed, the wicked is spared from the day of disaster;

he is delivered from the day of wrath.

Who denounces his way to his face?

And who repays him for what he has done?

When he is brought to the grave,

then someone stands guard over the tomb.

The clods of the valley are sweet to him;

everyone will follow after him,

and before him they are innumerable.

So how will you comfort me with emptiness,

when fraud is left in your answers?”