Westminster Annotations, Job · Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI.
Vers. 2. LEt this be your consolations] Your diligent marking of my words, is all the comfort I look for from you: interrupt me not then, as you did before.
V. 3. Suffer me that I may speak] Have patience to hear me a little while.
mock on] Chap. 16. 10. and 17. 2. Thou, O Zophar, that didst interrupt me (chap. 20. 2.) and mock me; do so again, if my words shall deserve it.
V. 4. why should not my spirit be troubled?] I complain to God, and not to you, else I should be troubled; for ye have condemned my cause already: but I hope God will hear and clear me.
troubled] Heb. shortened.
V. 5. Mark me] Heb. look unto me. Or, mark my words, or mark my case, and pity me for my afflictions.
lay your hand upon your mouth] Chap. 40. 4.
V. 6. when I remember] Either the change of my estate; or, Gods favouring the wicked, as follows, Psal. 119. 119, 120.
V. 7. Wherefore do the wicked live] Psal. 17. 10. and 73. 3, 12. Jer. 12. 1. Hab. 1. 16. We see it is false thou saidst, chap. 20. 5, O Zophar; for wicked men thrive long.
V. 8. Their seed is established in their sight] They see their children prosper to their comfort.
V. 9. are safe from fear] Heb. are peace from fear.
V. 11. They send forth their little ones like a flock] They have store of little ones, Psal. 107. 41.
V. 13. They spend their days in wealth] They live in prosperity all their days, and die without lingring pains, Psal. 73. 4.
in wealth] Or, in mirth.
V. 14. Therefore they say unto God] Chap. 22. 17.
we desire not the knowledge of thy ways] He sheweth, that God prospers evil men more then good.
V. 15. what profit shall we have if we pray unto him?] Mal. 3. 14.
V. 16. their good is not in their hand] They live as if their wealth were their own; yet I am not of their minde. So this verse and the rest, to the end of the two and twentieth, may be read all by way of question, which argueth a deniall. And the sense is good, else it seems to crosse Jobs scope, who labours to prove, That God doth prosper wicked men. Or, he grants that wicked men may long prosper, and yet God not approve them, but his vengeance, even here, oftentimes overtakes them, Psal. 37.
their good is not] Or, is not their good.
the] Or, yet the.
V. 17. candle] Or, lamp.
and how oft cometh their destruction upon them?] Sometimes God doth afflict wicked men, but not often.
God distributeth] Or, how oft doth God distribute.
V. 18. carrieth away] Heb. stealeth away.
V. 19. God layeth] Or, How oft doth God lay.
his iniquity] That is, the punishment of his iniquity.
he rewardeth him, and he shall know it] Or, how oft doth he reward him, that he may know it?
V. 20. His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink] Or, How oft do his eyes see, &c. and he drink.
V. 21. what pleasure hath he in his house after him] Ye will say, But God punisheth his children after him. I answer, What cares he for that, when he is dead himself?
V. 22. Shall any teach God knowledge?] Isai. 40. 13. Rom. 11. 34. 1 Cor. 2. 16. Ye will Object, This seems to be unjust, that God should prosper the wicked. I answer, God knows how to guide justly, though you understand not his wayes, Isai. 40. 13, 14. Rom. 11. 34.
He judgeth those that are high] Either great men, or else the angels. He that governs heaven, knows how to govern the earth, Eccles. 5. 8.
V. 23. in his full strength] Heb. in his very perfection, or, in the strength of his perfection.
V. 24. breasts] Or, milk-pails.
V. 26. They shall lie down alike in the dust] There is great difference between men here, but in the grave they are equall.
alike] Or, together, Chap. 3. 17.
the worms shall cover them] Chap. 17. 14. Isai. 14. 11.
V. 28. of the prince] It may be they mean the house of Jobs eldest son, which the winde blew down, Chap. 1. 18, 19.
the dwelling-places of the wicked] Heb. the tent of the taber…cles of the wicked.
V. 29. that go by the way?] Which through long travelling have experience, and tokens hereof; to wit, that the wicked may prosper in the world.
V. 30. That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction] Prov. 16. 4. 2 Pet. 2. 9. This verse may be read thus, That in the day of destruction the wicked are kept back, and are carried out in the day of wrath. That is, they escape the common calamities of world, and are kept to the day of judgement to be punished.
the day of wrath] Heb. the day of wraths.
V. 31. Who shall declare his way to his face] His power is so great, that no man dare reprove or punish him for his sins.
V. 32. Yet shall he be brought to the grave] This verse may be read thus. At length he is brought to the grave, and remaineth in the tombe: That is, after long prosperitie, he is not brought to the block for his sins, but buried with pomp, and lies quietly in the grave.
grave] Heb. graves.
remain in the tombe] Heb. watch in the heap.
V. 33. The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him] He shall rest sweetly in the grave, as others that die before, or after him.
V. 34. How then comfort ye me in vain] In coming to comfort me, why do you dispute against me with false grounds, as if I were wicked, because God afflicteth me, Chap. 14. 4. and 16. 2, 3.
falshood] Heb. transgression.