Job 21:15

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’

American Standard Version (1901)

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

Bible in Basic English

What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?

Free Bible Version

Who does the Almighty think he is for us to serve him as slaves? What benefit is there for us if we pray to him?’

King James (Authorized) Version

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

Translation for Translators

Why do you, Almighty God, think that we should serve you? ◄What advantage do we get if we pray to you?/It is useless for us to pray to you.► [RHQ]’

Unlocked Literal Bible

What is the Almighty, that we should worship him? What advantage would we get if we prayed to him?'

Noah Webster Bible

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray to him?

World English Bible

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’

Young's Literal Translation

What [is] the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?'

Context

Job: God Will Punish the Wicked

¹⁴Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways. ¹⁵Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’ ¹⁶Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.

Sermons

The Use and Abuse of Money

Keith Daniel

1.6K

Summary

In this verse, Job reflects on the prosperity of the wicked, acknowledging that they seem to live their lives without experiencing the consequences of their actions. Despite their sinful ways, they enjoy wealth, health, and success, which can be puzzling and frustrating to those who strive to live righteously. Job's observation raises questions about the justice and fairness of God's ways, as he grapples with the reality that the wicked sometimes appear to thrive while the righteous suffer.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

What is the Almighty - What allegiance do we owe to him? We feel no obligation to obey him; and what profit can we derive from prayer? We are as happy as flesh and blood can make us: our kingdom is of this world; we wish for no other portion than that which we have. Those who have never prayed as they ought know nothing of the benefits of prayer.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Lo, their good is not in their hand,.... Though it is in their possession for the present, it is not in the power of their hands to keep, nor to carry it with them when they die; God, that gave it, can take it away when he pleases; and therefore it might be profitable to them to serve him and pray unto him: or "their good is not by their hand"; they do not obtain their happiness by their works, as in the Tigurine version; and to the same sense Mr. Broughton, "lo, their wealth cometh not by their own power;'' it is not got by their own industry, diligence, care, and labour; by their own wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and cunning; for riches are not always to men of understanding, but come from God, who gives them to whom he pleases, and can take them away again if he thinks fit; and therefore men are dependent upon him for what they have, and should be thankful to him, and serve him, and pray for the continuance of good things to them. Jarchi reads the words by way of interrogation and admiration, lo! is "not their good in their hand?" verily it is, especially in their own opinion; their hands are full of it; they want nothing of God; they see no need of praying to him; hence the above words, which Job expresses his disapprobation of: the counsel of the wicked is far from me; the counsels of their hearts; the thoughts of their mind; the words of their mouth; the above impious sayings were such as were detested and abhorred by him; their sense and judgment of things, their choice from deliberate consultation with themselves, preferring temporal good to spiritual good, and earthly things to heavenly ones, outward wealth and riches to the knowledge, service, and worship of God, and communion with him; these were what he disliked; their course of life, which was according to this world, and Satan the god of it, their company and conversation, were such as he carefully shunned and avoided; he chose not to come into their assembly, or to have any fellowship with them; to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners, these things were an abomination to him; see Psa 1:1. This Job says to exculpate himself, and wipe off any calumny that might be cast upon him, as if by what he had said, concerning the outward prosperity of the wicked, that he was a patron and defender of them, and an advocate for them.

Job 21:15

Job: God Will Punish the Wicked

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’

American Standard Version (1901)

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

Bible in Basic English

What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?

Free Bible Version

Who does the Almighty think he is for us to serve him as slaves? What benefit is there for us if we pray to him?’

King James (Authorized) Version

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

Translation for Translators

Why do you, Almighty God, think that we should serve you? ◄What advantage do we get if we pray to you?/It is useless for us to pray to you.► [RHQ]’

Unlocked Literal Bible

What is the Almighty, that we should worship him? What advantage would we get if we prayed to him?'

Noah Webster Bible

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray to him?

World English Bible

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’

Young's Literal Translation

What [is] the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?'

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Job 21:15

Verse

Context

Job: God Will Punish the Wicked

Sermons

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Job 21:15

Job: God Will Punish the Wicked

The Use and Abuse of Money

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary