Giobbe 21:26-34

26 Amendue giacciono nella polvere, E i vermini li coprono.

27 Ecco, io conosco i vostri pensamenti, E i malvagi discorsi che voi fate contro a me a torto.

28 Perciocchè voi direte: Ove è la casa del magnifico? Ed ove sono i padiglioni ove abitavano gli empi?

29 Non vi siete voi giammai informati da coloro che fanno viaggi? Voi non disdirete già i segnali ch’essi ne dànno;

30 Che il malvagio è riparato al giorno della ruina, Quando le ire sono sparse.

31 Chi gli rappresenterà la sua via in faccia? E chi gli farà la retribuzione di ciò ch’egli ha fatto?

32 Poi appresso egli è portato ne’ sepolcri, E non attende più ad altro che all’avello.

33 I cespi della valle gli son dolci; Ed egli si tira dietro tutti gli uomini, Siccome davanti a lui ne son iti innumerabili.

34 Come dunque mi consolate voi vanamente? Conciossiachè nelle vostre repliche vi sia sempre della prevaricazione.

Giobbe 21:26-34 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.