Job 21:15
13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
14 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?
16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’
- KJV
- What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
- WEB
- What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’
- ASV
- What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
- DARBY
- What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?
- BLB
- What [is] Shaddai that we should serve Him? And what do we gain that we should meet with Him?’
- ÅB
- Hva er den Allmektige, at vi skulle tjene ham, og hva gagn skulle vi ha av å vende oss til ham med bønn?
- OTB
- Hvem er Den Allmektige, at vi skulle tjene ham?
Hva gagn har vi av å be til ham?’ - B1930
- Hvad er den Allmektige, at vi skulde tjene ham, og hvad gagn skulde vi ha av å vende oss til ham med bønn?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Exodus 5:2
And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
Read in contextJob 34:9
For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
Read in contextMalachi 1:13–14
Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.
Read in contextPsalms 12:4
Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
Read in contextIsaiah 30:11
Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
Read in contextProverbs 30:9
Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
Read in contextJob 35:3
For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?
Read in contextIsaiah 45:19
I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
Read in context