Bible in Basic English
Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.
Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,
They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld.
Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.
What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?
Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)
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?
— Job 21:9-1964, Bible in Basic English
“Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me. How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? 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 breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked? Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought 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 brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him. How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood? ”
“Their houses are secure and peaceable, and the rod of God is not upon them. Their cattle have conceived, and failed not: their cow has calved, and is not deprived of her fruit. Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children dance and play. They take the timbrel, and the harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to hell. Who have said to God: Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what doth it profit us if we pray to him? Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may the counsel of the wicked be far from me. How often shall the lamp of the wicked be put out, and a deluge come upon them, and he shall distribute the sorrows of his wrath? They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes which the whirlwind scattereth. God shall lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: and when he shall repay, then shall he know. His eyes shall see his own destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. For what is it to him what befalleth his house after him: and if the number of his months be diminished by one half? Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high? One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy. His bowels are full of fat, and his bones are moistened with marrow. But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches: And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them. Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against me. For you say: Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked? Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things. Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, and he shall be brought to the day of wrath. Who shall reprove his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done? He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the heap of the dead. He hath been acceptable to the gravel of Cocytus, and he shall draw every man after him, and there are innumerable before him. How then do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewn to be repugnant to truth? ”
At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.
Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.
Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,
They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld.
Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.
What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?
Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)
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?