“How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God distributes pains in his anger?
Job had largely described the prosperity of wicked people; now, in these verses, I. He opposes this to what his friends had maintained concerning their certain ruin in this life. "Tell me how often do you see the candle of the wicked put out? Do you not as often see it burnt down to the socket, until it goes out of itself? Job 21:17.
Commenting on Job 21:17-26
They are as stubble before the wind,.... Or how oft "are they as stubble?" &c. or how oft does God do the above things, "so that they are", or "become, as stubble before the wind" (u), and as chaff that the storm carrieth, or "steals away" (x)?
Job in this whole passage down to Job 21:21 quotes the assertion of the friends, as to the short continuance of the sinner's prosperity, not his own sentiments. In Job 21:22 he proceeds to refute them. "How oft is the candle" (lamp), &c., quoting Bildad's sentiment (Job 18:5-6), in order to question its truth (compare Mat 25:8). how oft--"God distributeth," &c. (alluding to Job 20:23, Job 20:29).