Job 21
Job 21 is part of “Second Cycle of Dialogue” (15–21) in the outline of Job.
Job 21 summary
This is Job's reply to Zophar's discourse, in which he complains less of his own miseries than he had done in his former discourses (finding that his friends were not moved by his complaints to pity him in the least), and comes closer to the general question that was in dispute between him and them, Whether outward prosperity, and the continuance of it, were a mark of the true church and the true members of it, so that the ruin of a man's prosperity is sufficient to prove him a hypocrite, though no other evidence appear against him: this they asserted, but Job denied. I. His preface here is designed for the moving of their affections, that…
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This is Job's reply to Zophar's discourse, in which he complains less of his own miseries than he had done in his former discourses (finding that his friends were not moved by his complaints to pity him in the least), and comes closer to the general question that was in dispute between him and them, Whether outward prosperity, and the continuance of it, were a mark of the true church and the true members of it, so that the ruin of a man's prosperity is sufficient to prove him a hypocrite, though no other evidence appear against him: this they asserted, but Job denied. I. His preface here is designed for the moving of their affections, that he might gain their attention (Job 21:1-6). II. His discourse is designed for the convincing of their judgments and the rectifying of their mistakes. He owns that God does sometimes hang up a wicked man as it were in chains, in terrorem - as a terror to others, by some visible remarkable judgment in this life, but denies that he always does so; nay, he maintains that commonly he does otherwise, suffering even the worst of sinners to live all their days in prosperity and to go out of the world without any visible mark of his wrath upon them. 1. He describes the great prosperity of wicked people (Job 21:7-13). 2. He shows their great impiety, in which they are hardened by their prosperity (Job 21:14-16). 3. He foretels their ruin at length, but after a long reprieve (Job 21:17-21). 4. He observes a very great variety in the ways of God's providence towards men, even towards bad men (Job 21:22-26). 5. He overthrows the ground of their severe censures of him, by showing that the destruction of the wicked is reserved for the other world, and that they often escape to the last in this world (Job 21:27, to the end), and in this Job was clearly in the right.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Job 21 (ASV)
American Standard Version (public domain)
Job's Reply: Why Do the Wicked Prosper?
1Then Job answered and said, 2Hear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations. 3Suffer me, and I also will speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on. 4As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient? 5Mark me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth. 6Even when I remember I am troubled, And horror taketh hold on my flesh. 7Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power? 8Their seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes. 9Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them. 10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. 11They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance. 12They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe. 13They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol. 14And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? 16Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me. 17How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity cometh upon them? That [God] distributeth sorrows in his anger? 18That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away? 19[Ye say], God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it: 20Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty. 21For what careth he for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off? 22Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high? 23One dieth in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet: 24His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened. 25And another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good. 26They lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them. 27Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me. 28For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt? 29Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences, 30That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath? 31Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done? 32Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb. 33The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him. 34How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth [only] falsehood?