Job 21:18
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.
American King James Version (AKJV)
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.
American Standard Version (ASV)
That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
Basic English Translation (BBE)
How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
Webster's Revision
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
World English Bible
How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
English Revised Version (ERV)
That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
Clarke's Job 21:18 Bible Commentary
They are as stubble before the wind - "His fan is in his hand; he will thoroughly cleanse his floor, and the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, but shall be like the chaff which the wind driveth away." Were not this a common thought, I should have supposed that the author of this book borrowed it from Psalm 1:4. The original signifies that they shall be carried away by a furious storm; and borne off as booty is by the swift-riding robbers of the desert, who make a sudden irruption, and then set off at full speed with their prey.
Barnes's Job 21:18 Bible Commentary
They are as stubble before the wind - According to the interpretation proposed of the previous verse, this may be read as a question, "How often is it that the wicked are made like stubble? You say that God deals with people exactly according to their characters, and that the wicked are certainly subjected to calamities; but how often does this, in fact, occur? Is it a uniform law? Do they not, in fact, live in prosperity, and arrive at a good old age?" It is not uncommon in the Scriptures to compare the wicked with stubble, and to affirm that they shall be driven away, as the chaff is driven by the wind; see the notes at Isaiah 17:13.
The storm carrieth away - Margin, "stealeth away." This is a literal translation of the Hebrew. The idea is that of stealing away before one is aware, as a thief carries off spoil.