Bible in Basic English
Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:
His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;
For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?
How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?
Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?
He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.
Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit?
— Job 21:20-1964, Bible in Basic English
“Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty. For what careth he for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off? Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high? One dieth in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet: His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened. And another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good. They lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them. Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me. For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt? Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences, That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath? Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done? Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb. The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him. How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth only falsehood? ”
How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords?
How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it!
Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:
His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;
For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?
How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?
Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?
He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.
Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit?