7 “Why do the wicked live,
become old, yes, and grow mighty in power? 8 Their child is established with them in their sight,
their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear,
neither is the rod of God upon them. 10 Their bulls breed without fail.
Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry. 11 They send forth their little ones like a flock.
Their children dance. 12 They sing to the tambourine and harp,
and rejoice at the sound of the pipe. 13 They spend their days in prosperity.
In an instant they go down to Sheol. 14 They tell God, ‘Depart from us,
for we don’t want to know about your ways. 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
What profit should we have, if we pray to 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.