Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace. New Living Translation They spend their days in prosperity, then go down to the grave in peace. English Standard Version They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol. Berean Standard Bible They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace. King James Bible They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. New King James Version They spend their days in wealth, And in a moment go down to the grave. New American Standard Bible “They spend their days in prosperity, And suddenly they go down to Sheol. NASB 1995 “They spend their days in prosperity, And suddenly they go down to Sheol. NASB 1977 “They spend their days in prosperity, And suddenly they go down to Sheol. Legacy Standard Bible They spend their days in prosperity, And suddenly they go down to Sheol. Amplified Bible “They fully enjoy their days in prosperity, And so go down to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) in a [peaceful] moment. Christian Standard Bible They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace. Holman Christian Standard Bible They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace. American Standard Version They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol. Contemporary English Version and they are successful, without a worry, until the day they die. English Revised Version They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment they go down to Sheol. GOD'S WORD® Translation They spend their days in happiness, and they go peacefully to the grave. Good News Translation They live out their lives in peace and quietly die without suffering. International Standard Version They grow old in prosperity, as they descend peacefully into the afterlife. NET Bible They live out their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace. New Heart English Bible They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol. Webster's Bible Translation They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThey spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace. World English Bible They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThey wear out their days in good, "" And in a moment go down [to] Sheol. Young's Literal Translation They wear out in good their days, And in a moment to Sheol go down. Smith's Literal Translation Their days glided on in good, and in a moment they will lay hold of hades. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThey spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to hell. Catholic Public Domain Version Their days are prolonged in wealth, yet, in an instant, they descend into hell. New American Bible They live out their days in prosperity, and tranquilly go down to Sheol. New Revised Standard Version They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThey spend their days in prosperity, and then suddenly go down to Sheol. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated They spend their days in prosperity, and quickly to Sheol they descend OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917They spend their days in prosperity, And peacefully they go down to the grave. Brenton Septuagint Translation And they spend their days in wealth, and fall asleep in the rest of the grave. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Job: God will Punish the Wicked…12singing to the tambourine and lyre and making merry at the sound of the flute. 13They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace. 14Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways.… Cross References Psalm 73:3-12 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. / They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed. / They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men. ... Luke 12:19-20 Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ / But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ Ecclesiastes 8:12-13 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence. / Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow. Psalm 49:6-14 They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches. / No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God. / For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice, ... Jeremiah 12:1-2 Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? / You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts. Proverbs 1:32 For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. Ecclesiastes 7:15 In my futile life I have seen both of these: A righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness. Psalm 17:14 from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children. Matthew 24:38-39 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. / And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. Ecclesiastes 9:2-3 It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow. / This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead. Luke 16:19-25 Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. / And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores / and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. ... Psalm 37:35-36 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree, / yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. Ecclesiastes 2:16 For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool! James 5:5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter. Treasury of Scripture They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. They Job 36:11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. Psalm 73:4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. Matthew 24:38,39 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, … wealth. Jump to Previous End Good Grave Instant Moment Peace Peacefully Prosperity Sheol Spend Suddenly Trouble Underworld Wealth WearJump to Next End Good Grave Instant Moment Peace Peacefully Prosperity Sheol Spend Suddenly Trouble Underworld Wealth WearJob 21 1. Job shows that even in the judgment of man he has reason to be grieved7. Sometimes the wicked prosper, though they despise God 16. Sometimes their destruction is manifest 21. The happy and unhappy are alike in death 27. The judgment of the wicked is in another world They spend their days in prosperity This phrase reflects the observation that the wicked often live in comfort and wealth. In the context of the Book of Job, Job is responding to his friends who argue that suffering is a direct result of sin. Job counters by pointing out that many who reject God still enjoy prosperity. This challenges the retribution theology prevalent in ancient Near Eastern culture, which held that good is rewarded and evil is punished in this life. The prosperity of the wicked is also addressed in Psalm 73, where the psalmist struggles with the same issue, ultimately finding solace in God's ultimate justice. and go down to Sheol in peace. Persons / Places / Events 1. JobThe central figure in the Book of Job, a man of great faith and integrity who undergoes severe trials and suffering. 2. Sheol In Hebrew thought, Sheol is the realm of the dead, a place where both the righteous and the wicked go after death. 3. Job's Friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who engage in dialogues with Job, often suggesting that his suffering is due to sin. 4. God The ultimate authority and sovereign over all events, who later speaks to Job and his friends. 5. Prosperity A state of success and wealth, often seen as a blessing from God in the Old Testament context. Teaching Points The Illusion of Earthly ProsperityEarthly wealth and success can be deceptive, leading individuals to a false sense of security. True peace is found in a relationship with God, not in material abundance. The Reality of Death Regardless of one's earthly status, death is a universal experience. It is crucial to consider one's spiritual state and relationship with God. God's Sovereignty and Justice While the wicked may prosper temporarily, God's justice will ultimately prevail. Trust in God's timing and justice, even when circumstances seem unfair. Eternal Perspective Focus on storing treasures in heaven rather than on earth. Earthly prosperity is temporary, but spiritual riches are eternal. Compassion and Witness Use the observation of the prosperity of the wicked as an opportunity to witness to them about the true peace found in Christ. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Job 21:13?2. How does Job 21:13 challenge our understanding of prosperity and righteousness? 3. What does Job 21:13 reveal about the temporary nature of earthly pleasures? 4. How can Job 21:13 inform our perspective on wealth and godliness? 5. In what ways does Job 21:13 connect to Jesus' teachings on materialism? 6. How should Job 21:13 influence our daily priorities and spiritual focus? 7. How does Job 21:13 challenge the prosperity of the wicked in a just world? 8. Why does God allow the wicked to live in comfort as described in Job 21:13? 9. What does Job 21:13 reveal about the nature of divine justice? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 21? 11. In Job 21:13, what evidence exists (historically or archaeologically) that would suggest the rich die at ease without facing retribution? 12. In Job 21:7, how can the wicked seemingly live long and prosper if divine justice is supposed to hold them accountable? 13. In Job 21:29-31, why does the community seem to uphold or admire the wicked instead of condemning them, and how does this align with other biblical portrayals of evildoers? 14. In Job 12:6, how does the idea that 'the tents of robbers are at peace' harmonize with other scriptures that insist the wicked are eventually punished? What Does Job 21:13 Mean They spend their days- Job is describing the ungodly who, from sunrise to sunset, enjoy full schedules of comfort and pleasure. - Psalm 73:3-5 observes a similar pattern: “For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked… They are free of the burdens common to man.” - Ecclesiastes 8:11-12 notes that when judgment is delayed, sinners feel encouraged to keep living as they please. - The emphasis is on the entire span of life—“their days”—hinting that nothing outward seems to interrupt their ease. in prosperity - The Hebrew idea of prosperity includes wealth, health, family success, and social honor. - Proverbs 10:22 affirms that “The blessing of the LORD enriches,” yet Job highlights a tension: those not walking with God appear to receive that enrichment. - Jesus points out in Matthew 5:45 that God “causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good,” underscoring common grace. - The prosperity here is real, not illusory; it is part of what makes Job’s complaint weighty—prosperity is observable fact, not rumor. and go down to Sheol - Sheol, the realm of the dead, is pictured as the inevitable destination for every person (Psalm 89:48). - For the wicked, Sheol is not annihilation but a conscious state awaiting final judgment (Daniel 12:2). - Job notes that their transition from life to death is uninterrupted by calamity, contrasting with his own sudden suffering. - The phrase “go down” stresses the certainty and universality of death (Hebrews 9:27). in peace - “Peace” here is ironic: outward serenity accompanies their last breath. There is no terror, no struggle; life simply ends. - Yet Isaiah 48:22 reminds, “There is no peace for the wicked,” showing that the peace is only surface-level and temporary. - Luke 16:19-25 depicts the rich man enjoying comfort in life but torment after death, revealing the ultimate lack of peace beyond the grave. - Job underscores the mystery: temporal tranquility does not equal eternal security. summary Job 21:13 confronts the puzzle of godless people who live comfortably and die quietly. Their entire lifespan seems blessed, and even their passing appears gentle, yet Scripture elsewhere clarifies that such peace is fleeting if unaccompanied by faith. The verse pushes believers to trust God’s final justice, remembering that outward prosperity and a calm death do not determine eternal realities. (13) In a moment.--They go down to death without being made to feel the lingering tortures that Job had to undergo.Verse 13. - They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. They die, i.e. without suffering from any prolonged or severe illness, such as that grievous affliction from which Job himself was suffering. Probably Job does not mean to maintain all this absolutely, or as universally the case, but he wishes to force his friends to acknowledge that there are many exceptions to their universal law, that wickedness is always visited in this world with condign punishment, and he wants them to account for them exceptions (see ver. 7).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew They spendיְכַלּ֣וּ (yə·ḵal·lū) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1086: To fail, to wear out, decay their days יְמֵיהֶ֑ם (yə·mê·hem) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 3117: A day in prosperity בַטּ֣וֹב (ḇaṭ·ṭō·wḇ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good and go down יֵחָֽתּוּ׃ (yê·ḥāt·tū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5181: To sink, descend, to press, lead down to Sheol שְׁא֣וֹל (šə·’ō·wl) Noun - common singular Strong's 7585: Underworld (place to which people descend at death) in peace. וּ֝בְרֶ֗גַע (ū·ḇə·re·ḡa‘) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7281: A wink, a very short space of time Links Job 21:13 NIVJob 21:13 NLT Job 21:13 ESV Job 21:13 NASB Job 21:13 KJV Job 21:13 BibleApps.com Job 21:13 Biblia Paralela Job 21:13 Chinese Bible Job 21:13 French Bible Job 21:13 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Job 21:13 They spend their days in prosperity (Jb) |