Job 21:16

But their prosperity is not their own doing. ¹  The counsel of the wicked is far from me! ² 

Ge 49:6; Job 1:21; Job 12:9,10; Job 22:18; Ps 1:1; Ps 49:6,7; Ps 52:5-7; Pr 1:10; Pr 5:8; Ec 8:8; Lu 16:2,25

¹ tn Heb “is not in their hand.”

sn The implication of this statement is that their well-being is from God, which is the problem Job is raising in the chapter. A number of commentators make it a question, interpreting it to mean that the wicked enjoy prosperity as if it is their right. Some emend the text to say “his hands” – Gordis reads it, “Indeed, our prosperity is not in his hands.”

² sn Even though their life seems so good in contrast to his own plight, Job cannot and will not embrace their principles – “far be from me their counsel.”