Job 21:16
New International Version
But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.

New Living Translation
(They think their prosperity is of their own doing, but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)

English Standard Version
Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Berean Standard Bible
Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.

King James Bible
Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

New King James Version
Indeed their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

New American Standard Bible
“Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand; The advice of the wicked is far from me.

NASB 1995
“Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

NASB 1977
“Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Legacy Standard Bible
Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Amplified Bible
But notice, the prosperity of the wicked is not in their hand (in their power); The counsel of the wicked [and the mystery of God’s dealings with the ungodly] is far from my comprehension.

Christian Standard Bible
But their prosperity is not of their own doing. The counsel of the wicked is far from me!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But their prosperity is not of their own doing. The counsel of the wicked is far from me!

American Standard Version
Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Contemporary English Version
We succeeded all on our own." And so, I keep away from them and their evil schemes.

English Revised Version
Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Anyhow, isn't their happiness in their own power? (The plan of the wicked is foreign to my way of thinking.)

Good News Translation
They claim they succeed by their own strength, but their way of thinking I can't accept.

International Standard Version
Behold! Their prosperity isn't in their control! The counsel of the wicked will remain far from me."

Majority Standard Bible
Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.

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

New Heart English Bible
Look, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Webster's Bible Translation
Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

World English Bible
Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Behold, their good [is] not in their hand "" (The counsel of the wicked "" Has been far from me).

Young's Literal Translation
Lo, not in their hand is their good, (The counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.)

Smith's Literal Translation
Behold, their good not in the hand: the counsel of the unjust was far from me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may the counsel of the wicked be far from me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
It is true that their good things are not in their power. May the counsel of the impious be far from me!

New American Bible
Their happiness is not in their own hands. The designs of the wicked are far from me!

New Revised Standard Version
Is not their prosperity indeed their own achievement? The plans of the wicked are repugnant to me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Lo, they have no power over their prosperity; the counsel of the ungodly is far from me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Behold, their benefit was not by their hands, and the thinking of the wicked is far from me
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For their good things were in their hands, but he regards not the works of the ungodly.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job: God will Punish the Wicked
15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’ 16Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked. 17How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come upon them? Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction?…

Cross References
Psalm 73:12
Behold, these are the wicked—always carefree as they increase their wealth.

Proverbs 1:32
For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

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.

Psalm 37:7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.

Psalm 49:6-7
They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches. / No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.

Ecclesiastes 8:14
There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.

Psalm 10:3
For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.

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.

Psalm 92:7
that though the wicked sprout like grass, and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed.

Proverbs 3:33
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.

Matthew 5:45
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Luke 12:16-21
Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. / So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ / Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. ...

James 5:1-6
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days. ...

1 Timothy 6:9-10
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

1 Timothy 6:17
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.


Treasury of Scripture

See, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Lo

Job 1:21
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Job 12:9,10
Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? …

Psalm 49:6,7
They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; …

the counsel

Job 22:18
Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Genesis 49:6
O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.

Psalm 1:1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

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Aloof Counsel Evil-Doers Far Good Hand Hands Power Prosperity Purpose Stand Well-Being Wicked
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Aloof Counsel Evil-Doers Far Good Hand Hands Power Prosperity Purpose Stand Well-Being Wicked
Job 21
1. Job shows that even in the judgment of man he has reason to be grieved
7. 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














Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands
This phrase reflects the belief that true prosperity is ultimately governed by God, not by human effort or control. In the context of Job, it challenges the assumption that wealth and success are direct indicators of righteousness. This idea is echoed in Proverbs 16:9, which states that while humans plan their course, the Lord establishes their steps. Theologically, this underscores the sovereignty of God over human affairs, a recurring theme throughout the Bible. Historically, the ancient Near Eastern cultures often attributed prosperity to divine favor, yet Job's assertion here questions the simplistic equation of wealth with divine approval.

so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked
Job distances himself from the advice and lifestyle of the wicked, emphasizing his commitment to righteousness despite his suffering. This reflects Psalm 1:1, which blesses those who do not walk in the counsel of the wicked. The cultural context of the time often saw the wicked as those who defied God's laws and pursued selfish gain. Job's stance is a declaration of his integrity and faithfulness to God, even when the prosperity of the wicked seems to contradict divine justice. This also foreshadows the New Testament teaching in 1 Corinthians 15:33, which warns that bad company corrupts good character, highlighting the importance of aligning oneself with godly counsel.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
The central figure in the Book of Job, a man of great faith and integrity who undergoes severe trials and suffering. In this chapter, Job is responding to his friends' arguments about the prosperity of the wicked.

2. The Wicked
Refers to those who live in opposition to God's ways, often prospering in worldly terms despite their unrighteousness.

3. Job's Friends
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who argue that suffering is a result of personal sin and that prosperity is a sign of righteousness.

4. Uz
The land where Job lived, often associated with the region east of Israel, possibly in Edom or northern Arabia.

5. God
The ultimate judge and sovereign ruler, whose wisdom and justice are central themes in the Book of Job.
Teaching Points
The Illusion of Self-Sufficiency
The prosperity of the wicked is not truly in their control; it is temporary and ultimately subject to God's sovereignty.

Avoiding the Counsel of the Wicked
Believers are called to distance themselves from ungodly advice and practices, recognizing that true wisdom comes from God.

Trusting in God's Justice
Even when the wicked seem to prosper, trust that God's justice will prevail in His perfect timing.

The Temporary Nature of Earthly Prosperity
Earthly wealth and success are fleeting; eternal values and righteousness should be our focus.

The Importance of Perspective
Maintaining a godly perspective helps us navigate the apparent injustices of life, keeping our faith anchored in God's promises.(16) Lo, their good (i.e., their prosperity) is not in their own hand.--And that constitutes the mystery of it, for it is God who gives it to them; or the words may be a hypothetical answer to his statement, thus, "Lo, thou repliest, their prosperity is not," &c.; and then the words, "the counsel of the wicked is far from me," are Job's indignant repudiation of all knowledge of their reasoning.

Verse 16. - Lo, their good is not in their hand; i.e. their prosperity is not in their own power, not the result of their own efforts. God's providence is, at least, one element in it, since he exalts men and abases them, he casteth down and lifteth up. Hence it would seem to follow that they are his favourites. Shall Job therefore cast in his lot with them? No, he says, a thousand times, No! The counsel of the wicked is far from me; or better, be the counsel of the wicked far from me! I will have nothing to do with it. I will cling to God. I will maintain my integrity. Satan had charged Job with serving God for the sake of temporal reward. Job had disproved the charge by still clinging to God, notwithstanding all his afflictions. Now he goes further, and declines to throw in his lot with the wicked, even although it should appear that the balance of prosperity is with them.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Yet
הֵ֤ן (hên)
Interjection
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

their prosperity [is]
טוּבָ֑ם (ṭū·ḇām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2898: Good, goodness, beauty, gladness, welfare

not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

in their own hands,
בְיָדָ֣ם (ḇə·yā·ḏām)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3027: A hand

so I stay far
רָ֣חֲקָה (rā·ḥă·qāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7368: To be or become far or distant

from the counsel
עֲצַ֥ת (‘ă·ṣaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6098: Advice, plan, prudence

of the wicked.
רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים (rə·šā·‘îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person


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OT Poetry: Job 21:16 Behold their prosperity is not in their (Jb)
Job 21:15
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