Job 21:15-25

15 Qu'est-ce que le Tout-Puissant, pour que nous le servions? Que gagnerons-nous à lui adresser nos prières?

16 Quoi donc! ne sont-ils pas en possession du bonheur? -Loin de moi le conseil des méchants!

17 Mais arrive-t-il souvent que leur lampe s'éteigne, Que la misère fonde sur eux, Que Dieu leur distribue leur part dans sa colère,

18 Qu'ils soient comme la paille emportée par le vent, Comme la balle enlevée par le tourbillon?

19 Est-ce pour les fils que Dieu réserve le châtiment du père? Mais c'est lui que Dieu devrait punir, pour qu'il le sente;

20 C'est lui qui devrait contempler sa propre ruine, C'est lui qui devrait boire la colère du Tout-Puissant.

21 Car, que lui importe sa maison après lui, Quand le nombre de ses mois est achevé?

22 Est-ce à Dieu qu'on donnera de la science, A lui qui gouverne les esprits célestes?

23 L'un meurt au sein du bien-être, De la paix et du bonheur,

24 Les flancs chargés de graisse Et la moelle des os remplie de sève;

25 L'autre meurt, l'amertume dans l'âme, Sans avoir joui d'aucun bien.

Job 21:15-25 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.