Ayub 20:29

20:29 Such is the lot God allots the wicked,

and the heritage of his appointment ¹  from God.”

Ayub 21:17

How Often Do the Wicked Suffer?

21:17 “How often ²  is the lamp of the wicked extinguished?

How often does their ³  misfortune come upon them?

How often does God apportion pain ⁴  to them ⁵  in his anger?

Ayub 21:30

21:30 that the evil man is spared

from the day of his misfortune,

that he is delivered ⁶ 

from the day of God’s wrath?

[20:29]  ¹ tn For the word אִמְרוֹ (’imro) some propose reading “his appointment,” and the others, “his word.” Driver shows that “the heritage of his appointment” means “his appointed heritage” (see GKC 440 §135.n).

[21:17]  ² tn The interrogative “How often” occurs only with the first colon; it is supplied for smoother reading in the next two.

[21:17]  ³ tn The pronominal suffix is objective; it re-enforces the object of the preposition, “upon them.” The verb in the clause is בּוֹא (bo’) followed by עַל (’al), “come upon [or against],” may be interpreted as meaning attack or strike.

[21:17]  ⁴ tn חֲבָלִים (khavalim) can mean “ropes” or “cords,” but that would not go with the verb “apportion” in this line. The meaning of “pangs (as in “birth-pangs”) seems to fit best here. The wider meaning would be “physical agony.”

[21:17]  ⁵ tn The phrase “to them” is understood and thus is supplied in the translation for clarification.

[21:30]  ⁶ tn The verb means “to be led forth.” To be “led forth in the day of trouble” means to be delivered.