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 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
Job's Reply: Why Do the Wicked Prosper?
1Bvt Iob answered, and sayd, 2Heare diligently my wordes, and this shalbe in stead of your consolations. 3Suffer mee, that I may speake, and when I haue spoken, mocke on. 4Doe I direct my talke to man? If it were so, how should not my spirit be troubled? 5Marke mee, and be abashed, and lay your hand vpon your mouth. 6Euen when I remember, I am afrayde, and feare taketh hold on my flesh. 7Wherefore do the wicked liue, and waxe olde, and grow in wealth? 8Their seede is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes. 9Their houses are peaceable without feare, and the rod of God is not vpon them. 10Their bullocke gendreth, and fayleth not: their cow calueth, and casteth not her calfe. 11They send forth their children like sheepe, and their sonnes dance. 12They take the tabret and harpe, and reioyce in the sound of the organs. 13They spend their dayes in wealth, and suddenly they go downe to the graue. 14They say also vnto God, Depart from vs: for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes. 15Who is the Almightie, that we should serue him? and what profit should we haue, if we should pray vnto him? 16Lo, their wealth is not in their hand: therfore let the counsell of the wicked bee farre from me. 17How oft shall the candle of the wicked be put out? and their destruction come vpon them? he wil deuide their liues in his wrath. 18They shall be as stubble before the winde, and as chaffe that the storme carieth away. 19God wil lay vp the sorowe of the father for his children: when he rewardeth him, hee shall knowe it. 20His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drinke of the wrath of the Almightie. 21For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the nomber of his moneths is cut off? 22Shall any teache God knowledge, who iudgeth the highest things? 23One dyeth in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperitie. 24His breasts are full of milke, and his bones runne full of marowe. 25And another dieth in the bitternes of his soule, and neuer eateth with pleasure. 26They shall sleepe both in the dust, and the wormes shall couer them. 27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the enterprises, wherewith ye do me wrong. 28For ye say, Where is the princes house? and where is the tabernacle of the wickeds dwelling? 29May ye not aske the that go by the way? and ye can not deny their signes. 30But the wicked is kept vnto the day of destruction, and they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. 31Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall reward him for that he hath done? 32Yet shall he be brought to the graue, and remaine in the heape. 33The slimie valley shalbe sweete vnto him, and euery man shall draw after him, as before him there were innumerable. 34How then comfort ye me in vaine, seeing in your answeres there remaine but lyes?