1But JobH347 answeredH6030 and saidH559, 2HearH8085 diligentlyH8085 my speechH4405, and let this be your consolationsH8575. 3SufferH5375 me that I may speakH1696 ; and afterH310 that I have spokenH1696, mock onH3932 . 4As for me, is my complaintH7879 to manH120? and if it were so, why should not my spiritH7307 be troubledH7114 ? 5MarkH6437 me, and be astonishedH8074, and layH7760 your handH3027 upon your mouthH6310. 6Even when I rememberH2142 I am afraidH926, and tremblingH6427 taketh hold onH270 my fleshH1320. 7Wherefore do the wickedH7563 liveH2421, become oldH6275, yea, are mightyH1396 in powerH2428? 8Their seedH2233 is establishedH3559 in their sightH6440 with them, and their offspringH6631 before their eyesH5869. 9Their housesH1004 are safeH7965 from fearH6343, neither is the rodH7626 of GodH433 upon them. 10Their bullH7794 genderethH5674, and failethH1602 not; their cowH6510 calvethH6403, and casteth not her calfH7921 . 11They send forthH7971 their little onesH5759 like a flockH6629, and their childrenH3206 danceH7540 . 12They takeH5375 the timbrelH8596 and harpH3658, and rejoiceH8055 at the soundH6963 of the organH5748. 13They spendH3615 H1086 their daysH3117 in wealthH2896, and in a momentH7281 go downH2865 H5181 to the graveH7585. 14Therefore they sayH559 unto GodH410, DepartH5493 from us; for we desireH2654 not the knowledgeH1847 of thy waysH1870. 15What is the AlmightyH7706, that we should serveH5647 him? and what profitH3276 should we have, if we prayH6293 unto him? 16Lo, their goodH2898 is not in their handH3027: the counselH6098 of the wickedH7563 is farH7368 from me. 17How oft is the candleH5216 of the wickedH7563 put outH1846 ! and how oft comethH935 their destructionH343 upon them! God distributethH2505 sorrowsH2256 in his angerH639. 18They are as stubbleH8401 beforeH6440 the windH7307, and as chaffH4671 that the stormH5492 carrieth awayH1589 . 19GodH433 layeth upH6845 his iniquityH205 for his childrenH1121: he rewardethH7999 him, and he shall knowH3045 it. 20His eyesH5869 shall seeH7200 his destructionH3589, and he shall drinkH8354 of the wrathH2534 of the AlmightyH7706. 21For what pleasureH2656 hath he in his houseH1004 afterH310 him, when the numberH4557 of his monthsH2320 is cut off in the midstH2686 ? 22Shall any teachH3925 GodH410 knowledgeH1847? seeing he judgethH8199 those that are highH7311 . 23One diethH4191 in his fullH8537 strengthH6106, being wholly at easeH7946 and quietH7961. 24His breastsH5845 are fullH4390 of milkH2461, and his bonesH6106 are moistenedH8248 with marrowH4221. 25And another diethH4191 in the bitternessH4751 of his soulH5315, and never eatethH398 with pleasureH2896. 26They shall lie downH7901 alikeH3162 in the dustH6083, and the wormsH7415 shall coverH3680 them. 27Behold, I knowH3045 your thoughtsH4284, and the devicesH4209 which ye wrongfully imagineH2554 against me. 28For ye sayH559, Where is the houseH1004 of the princeH5081? and where are the dwellingH4908 placesH168 of the wickedH7563? 29Have ye not askedH7592 them that goH5674 by the wayH1870? and do ye not knowH5234 their tokensH226, 30That the wickedH7451 is reservedH2820 to the dayH3117 of destructionH343? they shall be brought forthH2986 to the dayH3117 of wrathH5678. 31Who shall declareH5046 his wayH1870 to his faceH6440? and who shall repayH7999 him what he hath doneH6213 ? 32Yet shall he be broughtH2986 to the graveH6913, and shall remainH8245 in the tombH1430. 33The clodsH7263 of the valleyH5158 shall be sweetH4985 unto him, and every manH120 shall drawH4900 afterH310 him, as there are innumerableH4557 beforeH6440 him. 34How then comfortH5162 ye me in vainH1892, seeing in your answersH8666 there remainethH7604 falsehoodH4604?
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 2 JOB'S ANSWER. (Job 21:1-34)
consolations--If you will listen calmly to me, this will be regarded as "consolations"; alluding to Eliphaz' boasted "consolations" (
Job 15:11), which Job felt more as aggravations ("mockings,"
Job 21:3) than consolations (
Job 16:2).
3 literally, "Begin your mockings" (
Job 17:2).
4 Job's difficulty was not as to man, but as to God, why He so afflicted him, as if he were the guilty hypocrite which the friends alleged him to be. Vulgate translates it, "my disputation."
if it were--rather, "since this is the case."
5 lay . . . hand upon . . . mouth-- (
Pro 30:32;
Judg 18:19). So the heathen god of silence was pictured with his hand on his mouth. There was enough in Job's case to awe them into silence (
Job 17:8).
6 remember--Think on it. Can you wonder that I broke out into complaints, when the struggle was not with men, but with the Almighty? Reconcile, if you can, the ceaseless woes of the innocent with the divine justice! Is it not enough to make one tremble? [UMBREIT].
7 The answer is
Rom 2:4;
1Tim 1:16;
Ps 73:18;
Eccl 8:11-
Eccl 8:13;
Luke 2:35-
Luke 2:52;
Pro 16:4;
Rom 9:22.
old--in opposition to the friends who asserted that sinners are "cut off" early (
Job 8:12,
Job 8:14).
8 In opposition to
Job 18:19;
Job 5:4.
9 Literally, "peace from fear"; with poetic force. Their house is peace itself, far removed from fear. Opposed to the friends' assertion, as to the bad (
Job 15:21-
Job 15:24;
Job 20:26-
Job 20:28), and conversely, the good (
Job 5:23-
Job 5:24).
10 Rather, "their cattle conceive." The first clause of the verse describes an easy conception, the second, a happy birth [UMBREIT].
11 send forth--namely, out of doors, to their happy sports under the skies, like a joyful flock sent to the pastures.
little ones--like lambkins.
children--somewhat older than the former.
dance--not formal dances; but skip, like lambs, in joyous and healthful play.
12 take--rather, "lift up the voice" (sing) to the note of [UMBREIT].
timbrel--rather, "tambourine."
organ--not the modern "organ," but the "pipe" (
Gen 4:21). The first clause refers to stringed, the latter, to wind instruments; thus, with "the voice" all kinds of music are enumerated.
13 wealth--Old English Version for "prosperity."
in a moment--not by a lingering disease. Great blessings! Lengthened life with prosperity, and a sudden painless death (
Ps 73:4).
14 Therefore--rather, "And yet they are such as say," &c., that is, say, not in so many words, but virtually, by their conduct (so the Gergesenes,
Matt 8:34). How differently the godly (
Isa 2:3).
ways--The course of action, which God points out; as in
Ps 50:23, Margin.
15 (Compare
Jer 2:20;
Pro 30:9, Margin,
Exod 5:2).
what profit-- (
Job 35:3;
Mal 3:14;
Ps 73:13). Sinners ask, not what is right, but what is for the profit of self. They forget, "If religion cost self something, the want of it will cost self infinitely more."
16 not in their hand--but in the hand of God. This is Job's difficulty, that God who has sinners prosperity (good) in His hand should allow them to have it.
is--rather, "may the counsel of the wicked be far from me!" [UMBREIT]. This naturally follows the sentiment of the first clause: Let me not hereby be thought to regard with aught but horror the ways of the wicked, however prosperous.
17 Job in this whole passage down to
Job 21:21 quotes the assertion of the friends, as to the short continuance of the sinner's prosperity, not his own sentiments. In
Job 21:22 he proceeds to refute them. "How oft is the candle" (lamp), &c., quoting Bildad's sentiment (
Job 18:5-
Job 18:6), in order to question its truth (compare
Matt 25:8).
how oft--"God distributeth," &c. (alluding to
Job 20:23,
Job 20:29).
sorrows--UMBREIT translates "snares," literally, "cords," which lightning in its twining motion resembles (
Ps 11:6).
18 Job alludes to a like sentiment of Bildad (
Job 18:18), using his own previous words (
Job 13:25).
19 Equally questionable is the friends' assertion that if the godless himself is not punished, the children are (
Job 18:19;
Job 20:10); and that God rewardeth him here for his iniquity, and that he shall know it to his cost. So "know" (
Hos 9:7).
20 Another questionable assertion of the friends, that the sinner sees his own and his children's destruction in his lifetime.
drink-- (
Ps 11:6;
Isa 51:17;
Lam 4:21).
21 The argument of the friends, in proof of
Job 21:20, What pleasure can he have from his house (children) when he is dead--("after him,"
Eccl 3:22).
when the number, &c.--Or, rather, "What hath he to do with his children?" &c. (so the Hebrew in
Eccl 3:1;
Eccl 8:6). It is therefore necessary that "his eyes should see his and their destruction" (see
Job 14:21).
cut off--rather, when the number of his allotted months is fulfilled (
Job 14:5). From an Arabic word, "arrow," which was used to draw lots with. Hence "arrow"--inevitable destiny [UMBREIT].
22 Reply of Job, "In all these assertions you try to teach God how He ought to deal with men, rather than prove that He does in fact so deal with them. Experience is against you. God gives prosperity and adversity as it pleases Him, not as man's wisdom would have it, on principles inscrutable to us" (
Isa 40:13;
Rom 11:34).
those . . . high--the high ones, not only angels, but men (
Isa 2:12-
Isa 2:17).
23 Literally, "in the bone of his perfection," that is, the full strength of unimpaired prosperity [UMBREIT].
24 breasts--rather, "skins," or "vessels" for fluids [LEE]. But [UMBREIT] "stations or resting-places of his herds near water"; in opposition to Zophar (
Job 20:17); the first clause refers to his abundant substance, the second to his vigorous health.
moistened--comparing man's body to a well-watered field (
Pro 3:8;
Isa 58:11).
26 (
Eccl 9:2).
27 Their wrongful thoughts against Job are stated by him in
Job 21:28. They do not honestly name Job, but insinuate his guilt.
28 ye say--referring to Zophar (
Job 20:7).
the house--referring to the fall of the house of Job's oldest son (
Job 1:19) and the destruction of his family.
prince--The parallel "wicked" in the second clause requires this to be taken in a bad sense, tyrant, oppressor (
Isa 13:2), the same Hebrew, "nobles"--oppressors.
dwelling-places--rather, "pavilions," a tent containing many dwellings, such as a great emir, like Job, with many dependents, would have.
29 Job, seeing that the friends will not admit him as an impartial judge, as they consider his calamities prove his guilt, begs them to ask the opinion of travellers (
Lam 1:12), who have the experience drawn from observation, and who are no way connected with him. Job opposes this to Bildad (
Job 8:8) and Zophar (
Job 20:4).
tokens--rather, "intimations" (for example, inscriptions, proverbs, signifying the results of their observation), testimony. Literally, "signs" or proofs in confirmation of the word spoken (
Isa 7:11).
30 Their testimony (referring perhaps to those who had visited the region where Abraham who enjoyed a revelation then lived) is that "the wicked is (now) spared (reserved) against the day of destruction (hereafter)." The Hebrew does not so well agree with [UMBREIT] "in the day of destruction." Job does not deny sinners' future punishment, but their punishment in this life. They have their "good things" now. Hereafter, their lot, and that of the godly, shall be reversed (
Luke 16:25). Job, by the Spirit, often utters truths which solve the difficulty under which he labored. His afflictions mostly clouded his faith, else he would have seen the solution furnished by his own words. This answers the objection, that if he knew of the resurrection in
Job 19:25, and future retribution (
Job 21:30), why did he not draw his reasonings elsewhere from them, which he did not? God's righteous government, however, needs to be vindicated as to this life also, and therefore the Holy Ghost has caused the argument mainly to turn on it at the same time giving glimpses of a future fuller vindication of God's ways.
brought forth--not "carried away safe" or "escape" (referring to this life), as UMBREIT has it.
wrath--literally, "wraths," that is, multiplied and fierce wrath.
31 That is, who dares to charge him openly with his bad ways? namely, in this present life. He shall, I grant (
Job 21:30), be "repaid" hereafter.
32 Yet--rather, "and."
brought--with solemn pomp (
Ps 45:15).
grave--literally, "graves"; that is, the place where the graves are.
remain in--rather, watch on the tomb, or sepulchral mound. Even after death he seems still to live and watch (that is, have his "remembrance" preserved) by means of the monument over the grave. In opposition to Bildad (
Job 18:17).
33 As the classic saying has it, "The earth is light upon him." His repose shall be "sweet."
draw--follow. He shall share the common lot of mortals; no worse off than they (
Heb 9:27). UMBREIT not so well (for it is not true of "every man"). "Most men follow in his bad steps, as countless such preceded him."
34 falsehood--literally, "transgression." Your boasted "consolations" (
Job 15:11) are contradicted by facts ("vain"); they therefore only betray your evil intent ("wickedness") against me.