Job 15:21-31

21 The sound of dread is always in his ears: and when there is peace, he always suspecteth treason.
22 He believeth not that he may return from darkness to light, looking round about for the sword on every side.
23 When he moveth himself to seek bread, he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
24 Tribulation shall terrify him, and distress shall surround him, as a king that is prepared for the battle.
25 For he hath stretched out his hand against God, and hath strengthened himself against the Almighty.
26 He hath run against him with his neck raised up, and is armed with a fat neck.
27 Fatness hath covered his face, and the fat hangeth down on his sides.
28 He hath dwelt in desolate cities, and in desert houses that are reduced into heaps.
29 He shall not be enriched, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he push his root in the earth.
30 He shall not depart out of darkness: the flame shall dry up his branches, and he shall be taken away by the breath of his own mouth.
31 He shall not believe, being vainly deceived by error, that he may be redeemed with any price.

Job 15:21-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 15

Job's three friends having in their turns attacked him, and he having given answer respectively to them, Eliphaz, who began the attack, first enters the debate with him again, and proceeds upon the same plan as before, and endeavours to defend his former sentiments, falling upon Job with greater vehemence and severity; he charges him with vanity, imprudence, and unprofitableness in his talk, and acting a part unbecoming his character as a wise man; yea, with impiety and a neglect of religion, or at least as a discourager of it by his words and doctrines, of which his mouth and lips were witnesses against him, Job 15:1-6; he charges him with arrogance and a high conceit of himself, as if he was the first man that was made, nay, as if he was the eternal wisdom of God, and had been in his council; and, to check his vanity, retorts his own words upon him, or however the sense of them, Job 15:7-10; and also with slighting the consolations of God; upon which he warmly expostulates with him, Job 15:11-13; and in order to convince him of his self-righteousness, which he thought he was full of, he argues from the angels, the heavens, and the general case of man, Job 15:14-16; and then he declares from his own knowledge, and from the relation of wise and ancient men in former times, who made it their observation, that wicked men are afflicted all their days, attended with terror and despair, and liable to various calamities, Job 15:17-24; the reasons of which are their insolence to God, and hostilities committed against him, which they are encouraged in by their prosperous circumstances, Job 15:25-27; notwithstanding all, their estates, riches, and wealth, will come to nothing, Job 15:28-30; and the chapter is closed with an exhortation to such, not to feed themselves up with vain hopes, or trust in uncertain riches, since their destruction would be sure, sudden, and terrible, Job 15:31-35.

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