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< Chapter 21 >

 
But Job answered and said,
21:2
 
Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
21:3
 
Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
21:4
 
As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
21:5
 
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
21:6
 
Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
21:7
 
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
21:8
 
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
21:9
 
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
21:10
 
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
21:11
 
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
21:12
 
They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
21:13
 
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
21:14
 
Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
21:15
 
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
21:16
 
Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
21:17
 
How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
21:18
 
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
21:19
 
God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.
21:20
 
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21:21
 
For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
21:22
 
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
21:23
 
One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
21:24
 
His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
21:25
 
And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
21:26
 
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
21:27
 
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
21:28
 
For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
21:29
 
Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,
21:30
 
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
21:31
 
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
21:32
 
Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
21:33
 
The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
21:34
 
How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?

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John Wesley's Notes
Explanation posted by John Wesley on 2007-01-01 00:00:00
Job's preface to his answer, ver. 1-6. He describes the prosperity of wicked men, ver. 7-13. Hardening them in their impiety, ver. 14-16. He foretells their final ruin, ver. 17-21. He observes a great variety in the ways of God, ver. 22-26. He shews, that tho' sinners are always punished in the other world, they often escape in this, ver. 27-34.
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