7 Why do the wicked live on, reach old age, and grow mighty in power? 8 Their children are established in their presence, and their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them. 10 Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and never miscarries. 11 They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children dance around. 12 They sing to the tambourine and the lyre, and rejoice to the sound of the pipe. 13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol. 14 They say to God, "Leave us alone! We do not desire to know your ways. 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?' 16 Is not their prosperity indeed their own achievement? The plans of the wicked are repugnant to 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.