18 How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a gale?
18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
18 That they are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?
18 How often are they blown away by bad luck? Not very often.
18 They are like straw before the wind, And like chaff that a storm carries away.
18 Are they driven before the wind like straw? Are they carried away by the storm like chaff? Not at all!
2 "Would a wise person answer with empty notions or fill their belly with the hot east wind?
2 Should a wise man utter vain
2 "Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?
2 "If you were truly wise, would you sound so much like a windbag, belching hot air?
2 "Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind?
2 "A wise man wouldn't answer with such empty talk! You are nothing but a windbag.
(Read Job 15:1-16)
Eliphaz begins a second attack upon Job, instead of being softened by his complaints. He unjustly charges Job with casting off the fear of God, and all regard to him, and restraining prayer. See in what religion is summed up, fearing God, and praying to him; the former the most needful principle, the latter the most needful practice. Eliphaz charges Job with self-conceit. He charges him with contempt of the counsels and comforts given him by his friends. We are apt to think that which we ourselves say is important, when others, with reason, think little of it. He charges him with opposition to God. Eliphaz ought not to have put harsh constructions upon the words of one well known for piety, and now in temptation. It is plain that these disputants were deeply convinced of the doctrine of original sin, and the total depravity of human nature. Shall we not admire the patience of God in bearing with us? and still more his love to us in the redemption of Christ Jesus his beloved Son?
9 Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.
9 Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns, whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away!
9 Before what they cook up is half-done, God, throw it out with the garbage!
9 Before your pots can feel the burning thorns, He shall take them away as with a whirlwind, As in His living and burning wrath.
9 God will sweep them away, both young and old, faster than a pot heats over burning thorns.
(Read Psalm 58:6-11)
David prayed that the enemies of God's church and people might be disabled to do further mischief. We may, in faith, pray against the designs of the enemies of the church. He foretells their ruin. And who knows the power of God's anger? The victories of the Just One, in his own person and that of his servants, over the enemies of man's salvation, produce a joy which springs not from revenge, but from a view of the Divine mercy, justice, and truth, shown in the redemption of the elect, the punishment of the ungodly, and the fulfilment of the promises. Whoever duly considers these things, will diligently seek the reward of righteousness, and adore the Providence which orders all thing aright in heaven and in earth.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 21:18
Commentary on Job 21:17-26
(Read Job 21:17-26)
Job had described the prosperity of wicked people; in these verses he opposes this to what his friends had maintained about their certain ruin in this life. He reconciles this to the holiness and justice of God. Even while they prosper thus, they are light and worthless, of no account with God, or with wise men. In the height of their pomp and power, there is but a step between them and ruin. Job refers the difference Providence makes between one wicked man and another, into the wisdom of God. He is Judge of all the earth, and he will do right. So vast is the disproportion between time and eternity, that if hell be the lot of every sinner at last, it makes little difference if one goes singing thither, and another sighing. If one wicked man die in a palace, and another in a dungeon, the worm that dies not, and the fire that is not quenched, will be the same to them. Thus differences in this world are not worth perplexing ourselves about.