Job 21

Job 21:2

LEt this be your consolations] Your diligent marking of my words, is all the comfort I look for from you: interrupt me not then, as you did before.

Job 21:3

Suffer me that I may speak] Have patience to hear me a little while.

mock on] Chap. 16. 10. and 17. 2. Thou, O Zophar, that didst interrupt me (chap. 20. 2.) and mock me; do so again, if my words shall deserve it.

Job 21:4

why should not my spirit be troubled?] I complain to God, and not to you, else I should be troubled; for ye have condemned my cause already: but I hope God will hear and clear me.

troubled] Heb. shortened.

Job 21:5

Mark me] Heb. look unto me. Or, mark my words, or mark my case, and pity me for my afflictions.

lay your hand upon your mouth] Chap. 40. 4.

Job 21:6

when I remember] Either the change of my estate; or, Gods favouring the wicked, as follows, Psal. 119. 119, 120.

Job 21:7

Wherefore do the wicked live] Psalms 17:10. and 73. 3, 12. Jeremiah 12:1. Hab. 1. 16. We see it is false thou saidst, chap. 20. 5, O Zophar; for wicked men thrive long.

Job 21:8

Their seed is established in their sight] They see their children prosper to their comfort.

Job 21:9

are safe from fear] Heb. are peace from fear.

Job 21:11

They send forth their little ones like a flock] They have store of little ones, Psalms 107:41.

Job 21:13

They spend their days in wealth] They live in prosperity all their days, and die without lingring pains, Psalms 73:4.

in wealth] Or, in mirth.

Job 21:14

Therefore they say unto God] Chap. 22. 17.

we desire not the knowledge of thy ways] He sheweth, that God prospers evil men more then good.

Job 21:15

what profit shall we have if we pray unto him?] Malachi 3:14.

Job 21:16

their good is not in their hand] They live as if their wealth were their own; yet I am not of their minde. So this verse and the rest, to the end of the two and twentieth, may be read all by way of question, which argueth a deniall. And the sense is good, else it seems to crosse Jobs scope, who labours to prove, That God doth prosper wicked men. Or, he grants that wicked men may long prosper, and yet God not approve them, but his vengeance, even here, oftentimes overtakes them, Psal. 37.

their good is not] Or, is not their good.

the] Or, yet the.

Job 21:17

candle] Or, lamp.

and how oft cometh their destruction upon them?] Sometimes God doth afflict wicked men, but not often.

God distributeth] Or, how oft doth God distribute.

Job 21:18

carrieth away] Heb. stealeth away.

Job 21:19

God layeth] Or, How oft doth God lay.

his iniquity] That is, the punishment of his iniquity.

he rewardeth him, and he shall know it] Or, how oft doth he reward him, that he may know it?

Job 21:20

His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink] Or, How oft do his eyes see, &c. and he drink.

Job 21:21

what pleasure hath he in his house after him] Ye will say, But God punisheth his children after him. I answer, What cares he for that, when he is dead himself?

Job 21:22

Shall any teach God knowledge?] Isaiah 40:13. Romans 11:34. 1 Corinthians 2:16. Ye will Object, This seems to be unjust, that God should prosper the wicked. I answer, God knows how to guide justly, though you understand not his wayes, Isai. 40. 13, 14. Romans 11:34.

He judgeth those that are high] Either great men, or else the angels. He that governs heaven, knows how to govern the earth, Ecclesiastes 5:8.

Job 21:23

in his full strength] Heb. in his very perfection, or, in the strength of his perfection.

Job 21:24

breasts] Or, milk-pails.

Job 21:26

They shall lie down alike in the dust] There is great difference between men here, but in the grave they are equall.

alike] Or, together, Chap. 3. 17.

the worms shall cover them] Chap. 17. 14. Isaiah 14:11.

Job 21:28

of the prince] It may be they mean the house of Jobs eldest son, which the winde blew down, Chap. 1. 18, 19.

the dwelling-places of the wicked] Heb. the tent of the tabercles of the wicked.

Job 21:29

that go by the way?] Which through long travelling have experience, and tokens hereof; to wit, that the wicked may prosper in the world.

Job 21:30

That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction] Proverbs 16:4. 2 Peter 2:9. This verse may be read thus, That in the day of destruction the wicked are kept back, and are carried out in the day of wrath. That is, they escape the common calamities of world, and are kept to the day of judgement to be punished.

the day of wrath] Heb. the day of wraths.

Job 21:31

Who shall declare his way to his face] His power is so great, that no man dare reprove or punish him for his sins.

Job 21:32

Yet shall he be brought to the grave] This verse may be read thus. At length he is brought to the grave, and remaineth in the tombe: That is, after long prosperitie, he is not brought to the block for his sins, but buried with pomp, and lies quietly in the grave.

grave] Heb. graves.

remain in the tombe] Heb. watch in the heap.

Job 21:33

The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him] He shall rest sweetly in the grave, as others that die before, or after him.

Job 21:34

How then comfort ye me in vain] In coming to comfort me, why do you dispute against me with false grounds, as if I were wicked, because God afflicteth me, Chap. 14. 4. and 16. 2, 3.

falshood] Heb. transgression.