Job 21 אִיּוֹב פרק כ״א

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Job 21 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וַיַּעַןvay/YA/anand he answeredאִיּוֹבIy/YOVJobוַיֹּאמַר׃vay/yo/MARand said

   But Job answered and said,

2. 2

   שִׁמְעוּshim/Uhearשָׁמוֹעַsha/MO/ahearמִלָּתִיmil/la/TImy wordsוּתְהִי־זֹאתu/te/HI-zotand let this beתַּנְחוּמֹתֵיכֶם׃tan/CHU/mo/te/khemyour consolations

   Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

3. 3

   שָׂאוּנִיsa/U/nibear with meוְאָנֹכִיve/a/no/KHIyet Iאֲדַבֵּרa/dab/BERwill speakוְאַחַרve/a/CHARand afterדַּבְּרִיdab/be/RImy speakingתַלְעִיג׃tal/IGmock on

   Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

4. 4

   הֶאָנֹכִיhe/a/no/KHIas for meלְאָדָםle/a/DAMto manשִׂיחִיsi/CHIis my complaintוְאִם־מַדּוּעַve/IM-mad/DU/aand if whyלֹא־תִקְצַרlo-tik/TSARshould not be impatientרוּחִי׃ru/CHImy spirit

   As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

5. 5

   פְּנוּ־אֵלַיpe/NU-e/LAYturn to meוְהָשַׁמּוּve/ha/SHAM/muand be appalledוְשִׂימוּve/SI/muand setיָדyada handעַל־פֶּה׃al-peon the mouth

   Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

6. 6

   וְאִם־זָכַרְתִּיve/IM-za/KHAR/tiwhen I rememberוְנִבְהָלְתִּיve/niv/HAL/tiI am dismayedוְאָחַזve/a/CHAZand seizesבְּשָׂרִיbe/sa/RImy fleshפַּלָּצוּת׃pal/la/TSUTshuddering

   Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

7. 7

   מַדּוּעַmad/DU/awhyרְשָׁעִיםre/sha/IMthe wickedיִחְיוּyich/YUliveעָתְקוּa/te/KUgrow oldגַּם־גָּבְרוּgam-GAV/ruyes grow mightyחָיִל׃CHA/yilin power

   Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

8. 8

   זַרְעָםzar/AMtheir seedנָכוֹןna/KHONis establishedלִפְנֵיהֶםlif/ne/HEMbefore themעִמָּםim/MAMwith themוְצֶאֱצָאֵיהֶםve/tse/e/tsa/e/HEMand their offspringלְעֵינֵיהֶם׃le/e/ne/HEMbefore their eyes

   Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

9. 9

   בָּתֵּיהֶםbat/te/HEMtheir housesשָׁלוֹםsha/LOMare at peaceמִפָּחַדmip/PA/chadfrom fearוְלֹאve/LOand notשֵׁבֶטSHE/vetthe rod ofאֱלוֹהַּe/LO/ahGodעֲלֵיהֶם׃a/le/HEMupon them

   Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

10. 10

    שׁוֹרוֹsho/ROhis oxעִבַּרib/BARbreedsוְלֹאve/LOand notיַגְעִלyag/ILfailsתְּפַלֵּטte/fal/LETcalvesפָּרָתוֹpa/ra/TOhis cowוְלֹאve/LOand notתְשַׁכֵּל׃te/shak/KELmiscarries

    Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

11. 11

    יְשַׁלְּחוּye/shal/le/CHUthey send outכַצֹּאןkhats/TSONlike a flockעֲוִילֵיהֶםa/vi/le/HEMtheir little onesוְיַלְדֵיהֶםve/yal/de/HEMand their childrenיְרַקֵּדוּן׃ye/rak/ke/DUNdance

    They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

12. 12

    יִשְׂאוּyis/Uthey lift upכְּתֹףke/TOFwith tambourineוְכִנּוֹרve/khin/NORand lyreוְיִשְׂמְחוּve/yis/me/CHUand rejoiceלְקוֹלle/KOLat the sound ofעוּגָב׃u/GAVthe pipe

    They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

13. 13

    (יבלו)yavalav[יְכַלּוּ]ye/khal/LUthey spendבַטּוֹבvat/TOVin prosperityיְמֵיהֶםye/me/HEMtheir daysוּבְרֶגַעu/ve/RE/gaand in a momentשְׁאוֹלShe/OLSheolיֵחָתּוּ׃ye/CHAT/tuthey go down

    They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

14. 14

    וַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUyet they sayלָאֵלla/ELto Godסוּרsurdepartמִמֶּנּוּmim/MEN/nufrom usוְדַעַתve/DA/atand the knowledge ofדְּרָכֶיךָde/ra/KHE/khaYour waysלֹאlonotחָפָצְנוּ׃cha/FATS/nuwe desire

    Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

15. 15

    מַה־שַּׁדַּיma-Shad/DAYwhat is the Almightyכִּי־נַעַבְדֶנּוּki-na/av/DEN/nuthat we should serve Himוּמַה־נּוֹעִילu/MA-no/ILand what would we gainכִּיkiifנִפְגַּע־בּוֹ׃nif/GA-bowe pray to Him

    What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

16. 16

    הֵןhenbeholdלֹאlonotבְיָדָםve/ya/DAMin their own handטוּבָםtu/VAMtheir prosperityעֲצַתa/TSATthe counsel ofרְשָׁעִיםre/sha/IMthe wickedרָחֲקָהRA/cha/kais farמֶנִּי׃MEN/nifrom me

    Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17. 17

    כַּמָּהkam/MAhow oftenנֵר־רְשָׁעִיםner-re/sha/IMthe lamp of the wickedיִדְעָךְyid/AKHis put outוְיָבֹאve/ya/VOand comesעָלֵימוֹa/LE/moon themאֵידָםe/DAMtheir calamityחֲבָלִיםcha/va/LIMpainsיְחַלֵּקye/chal/LEKHe distributesבְּאַפּוֹ׃be/ap/POin His anger

    How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

18. 18

    יִהְיוּyih/YUthey areכְּתֶבֶןke/TE/venlike strawלִפְנֵי־רוּחַlif/NE-RU/achbefore the windוּכְמֹץu/khe/MOTSand like chaffגְּנָבַתּוּge/na/VAT/tuthat carries awayסוּפָה׃su/FAthe storm

    They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

19. 19

    אֱלוֹהַּe/LO/ahGodיִצְפֹּן־לְבָנָיוyits/PON-le/va/NAYVstores up for his sonsאוֹנוֹo/NOhis iniquityיְשַׁלֵּםye/shal/LEMlet Him repayאֵלָיוe/LAYVto himוְיֵדָע׃ve/ye/DAthat he may know

    God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

20. 20

    יִרְאוּyir/Ulet seeעֵינָוe/NAVhis eyesכִּידוֹki/DOhis ruinוּמֵחֲמַתu/me/cha/MATand of the wrath ofשַׁדַּיShad/DAYthe Almightyיִשְׁתֶּה׃yish/TElet him drink

    His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21. 21

    כִּיkiforמַה־חֶפְצוֹma-chef/TSOwhat does he careבְּבֵיתוֹbe/ve/TOin his houseאַחֲרָיוa/cha/RAYVafter himוּמִסְפַּרu/mis/PARand the number ofחֳדָשָׁיוcho/da/SHAYVhis monthsחֻצָּצוּ׃chuts/TSA/tsuare cut off

    For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

22. 22

    הַלְאֵלhal/ELcan to Godיְלַמֶּד־דָּעַתye/lam/MED-DA/atanyone teach knowledgeוְהוּאve/HUsince Heרָמִיםra/MIMthose on highיִשְׁפּוֹט׃yish/POTjudges

    Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

23. 23

    זֶהzeoneיָמוּתya/MUTdiesבְּעֶצֶםbe/E/tsemin the fullness ofתֻּמּוֹtum/MOhis vigorכֻּלּוֹkul/LOwhollyשַׁלְאֲנַןshal/a/NANat easeוְשָׁלֵיו׃ve/sha/LEVand secure

    One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

24. 24

    עֲטִינָיוa/ti/NAYVhis pailsמָלְאוּma/le/Uare full ofחָלָבcha/LAVmilkוּמֹחַu/MO/achand the marrow ofעַצְמוֹתָיוats/mo/TAYVhis bonesיְשֻׁקֶּה׃ye/shuk/KEis moist

    His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

25. 25

    וְזֶהve/ZEand anotherיָמוּתya/MUTdiesבְּנֶפֶשׁbe/NE/feshwith a soulמָרָהma/RAbitterוְלֹא־אָכַלve/LO-a/KHALnever having tastedבַּטּוֹבָה׃bat/to/VAgood

    And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.

26. 26

    יַחַדYA/chadtogetherעַל־עָפָרal-a/FARin the dustיִשְׁכָּבוּyish/KA/vuthey lie downוְרִמָּהve/rim/MAand the wormתְּכַסֶּהte/khas/SEcoversעֲלֵיהֶם׃a/le/HEMthem

    They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

27. 27

    הֵןhenbeholdיָדַעְתִּיya/DA/tiI knowמַחְשְׁבוֹתֵיכֶםmach/she/vo/te/KHEMyour thoughtsוּמְזִמּוֹתu/me/zim/MOTand the schemesעָלַיa/LAYagainst meתַּחְמֹסוּ׃tach/MO/suyou would wrong me with

    Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

28. 28

    כִּיkiforתֹאמְרוּto/me/RUyou sayאַיֵּהay/YEwhere isבֵית־נָדִיבvet-na/DIVthe house of the nobleוְאַיֵּהve/ay/YEand where isאֹהֶלO/helthe tent ofמִשְׁכְּנוֹתmish/ke/NOTthe dwelling places ofרְשָׁעִים׃re/sha/IMthe wicked

    For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

29. 29

    הֲלֹאha/LOhave notשְׁאֶלְתֶּםshe/el/TEMyou askedעוֹבְרֵיOV/rethose who passדָרֶךְDA/rekhby the wayוְאֹתֹתָםve/o/to/TAMand their tokensלֹאlonotתְנַכֵּרוּ׃te/nak/KE/rudo you recognize

    Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

30. 30

    כִּיkiforלְיוֹםle/YOMfor the day ofאֵידedcalamityיֵחָשֶׂךְye/CHA/sekhis sparedרָעrathe evil manלְיוֹםle/YOMfor the day ofעֲבָרוֹתa/va/ROTwrathיוּבָלוּ׃yu/VA/luthey are led away

    That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

31. 31

    מִי־יַגִּידmi-yag/GIDwho shall declareעַל־פָּנָיוal-pa/NAYVto his faceדַּרְכּוֹdar/KOhis wayוְהוּא־עָשָׂהve/HU-a/SAand what he has doneמִיmiwhoיְשַׁלֶּם־לוֹ׃ye/shal/LEM-lowill repay him

    Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

32. 32

    וְהוּאve/HUand heלִקְבָרוֹתlik/va/ROTto the graveיוּבָלyu/VALis carriedוְעַל־גָּדִישׁve/AL-ga/DISHand over the tombיִשְׁקוֹד׃yish/KODwatch is kept

    Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.

33. 33

    מָתְקוּ־לוֹma/te/KU-loshall be sweet to himרִגְבֵי־נָחַלrig/VE-NA/chalthe clods of the valleyוְאַחֲרָיוve/a/cha/RAYVand after himכׇּל־אָדָםkol-a/DAMall menיִמְשׁוֹךְyim/SHOKHfollowוּלְפָנָיוu/le/fa/NAYVand before himאֵיןenthere is noמִסְפָּר׃mis/PARnumber

    The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

34. 34

    וְאֵיךְve/EKHand howתְּנַחֲמוּנִיte/na/cha/MU/niwill you comfort meהָבֶלHA/velwith emptinessוּתְשׁוּבֹתֵיכֶםu/te/shu/vo/te/KHEMand your answersנִשְׁאַר־מָעַל׃nish/AR-ma/ALremain faithlessness

    How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?