7 "Why do the wicked still live , Continue on, also become very powerful ? 8 "Their descendants are established with them in their sight , And their offspring before their eyes , 9 Their houses are safe from fear , And the rod of God is not on them. 10 "His ox mates without fail ; His cow calves and does not abort . 11 "They send forth their little ones like the flock , And their children skip about . 12 "They sing to the timbrel and harp And rejoice at the sound of the flute . 13 "They spend their days in prosperity , And suddenly they go down to Sheol . 14 "They say to God , ' Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways . 15 'Who is the Almighty , that we should serve Him, And what would we gain if we entreat Him?' 16 "Behold , their prosperity is not in their hand ; The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 21:7-16
Commentary on Job 21:7-16
(Read Job 21:7-16)
Job says, Remarkable judgments are sometimes brought upon notorious sinners, but not always. Wherefore is it so? This is the day of God's patience; and, in some way or other, he makes use of the prosperity of the wicked to serve his own counsels, while it ripens them for ruin; but the chief reason is, because he will make it appear there is another world. These prospering sinners make light of God and religion, as if because they have so much of this world, they had no need to look after another. But religion is not a vain thing. If it be so to us, we may thank ourselves for resting on the outside of it. Job shows their folly.