Matthew Henry Commentary Job 21:27-34

"Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me. For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt? Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences, That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath? Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done? Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb. The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him. How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth [only] falsehood?" — Job 21:27-34 (ASV)

Job opposes the opinion of his friends that the wicked are sure to fall into visible and remarkable ruin, and none but the wicked; upon which principle they condemned Job as wicked. Turn to whomever you will, you will find that the punishment of sinners is designed more for the other world than for this (Jude 1:14, 15). The sinner is here presumed to live with a great deal of power.

The sinner will have a splendid funeral: a poor thing for anyone to be proud of the prospect. He will have a stately monument. And a valley with springs of water to keep the turf green was considered an honorable burial place among Eastern peoples; but such things are vain distinctions.

Death closes his prosperity. It is only a poor encouragement to die that others have died before us. What enables someone to die with true courage is to remember with faith that Jesus Christ died and was laid in the grave, not only before us but for us. That He has gone before us and died for us—He who is alive and lives for us—is true consolation in the hour of death.