How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
Job in this whole passage, down to verse 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), etc., quoting Bildad's sentiment (Job 18:5-6; Job 18:12), in order to question its truth (cf. Matthew 25:8).
How oft - "God distributeth," etc., alluding to Job 20:23; Job 20:29. How oft - "God distributeth," etc., alluding to Job 20:23; Job 20:29.
Sorrows - х chªbaaliym (H2256) is derived by Gesenius from cheebel (H2256), pain: but by Maurer from chebel (H2256), a cord to measure with; hence, a portion, as inheritances, were measured out by cords (Psalms 16:6, "The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places;" Amos 7:17, "Thy land shall be divided by lane")]. Umbreit translates 'snares'-literally, cords, which lightning in its twining motion resembles (Psalms 11:6).