Giobbe 21:16-26

16 Ecco, non hanno essi in mano la loro felicita? (lungi da me il consiglio degli empi!)

17 Quando avvien mai che la lucerna degli empi si spenga, che piombi loro addosso la ruina, e che Dio, nella sua ira, li retribuisca di pene?

18 Quando son essi mai come paglia al vento, come pula portata via dall’uragano?

19 "Iddio", mi dite, "serba castigo pei figli dell’empio". Ma punisca lui stesso! che lo senta lui,

20 che vegga con gli occhi propri la sua ruina, e beva egli stesso l’ira dell’Onnipotente!

21 E che importa all’empio della sua famiglia dopo di lui, quando il numero dei suoi mesi e ormai compiuto?

22 S’insegnerà forse a Dio la scienza? a lui che giudica quelli di lassù?

23 L’uno muore in mezzo al suo benessere, quand’è pienamente tranquillo e felice,

24 ha i secchi pieni di latte, e fresco il midollo dell’ossa.

25 L’altro muore con l’amarezza nell’anima, senz’aver mai gustato il bene.

26 Ambedue giacciono ugualmente nella polvere, e i vermi li ricoprono.

Giobbe 21:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 21

This chapter contains Job's reply to Zophar's preceding discourse, in which, after a preface exciting attention to what he was about to say, Job 21:1-6; he describes by various instances the prosperity of wicked men, even of the most impious and atheistical, and which continues with them as long as they live, contrary to what Zophar had asserted in Job 20:5, Job 21:7-15; as for himself, he disapproved of such wicked men as much as any, and owns that destruction comes upon them sooner or later, and on their posterity also, Job 21:16-21; but as God is a God of knowledge, and needs no instruction from any, and is a sovereign Being, he deals with men in different ways; some die in great ease, and peace, and prosperity, and others in bitterness and distress, but both are alike brought to the dust, Job 21:22-26; and whereas he was aware of their censures of him, and their objections to what he had said, he allows that the wicked are reserved to the day of destruction, which is future, and in the mean while lie in the grave, where all must follow; yet they are not repaid or rewarded in this life, that remains to be done in another world, Job 21:27-33; and concludes, that their consolation with respect to him was vain, and falsehood was in their answers, Job 21:34.