Job 21:17 asks, 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 asked his friends if they could give him examples of the wicked, even those who denied and defied God, always being cut down.  Job knew that many wicked people did live long and prosperous lives, but that in the day of judgment they would be cut down.  God sees things from an eternal point and not from a material, temporary one. Verse eighteen says, They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. I believe that Job was speaking about the judgment of God that would come one day.  The wicked may have felt secure and denied God's existence, but the day was coming when the would be no more powerful than stubble in the wind.  Their status in this world would not matter.  Verse nineteen states, God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.  I believe that Job was saying that one day those who denied God would know that He not only existed, but that He would judge their actions in this life.  Matthew Henry says that this means the children of the wicked will be punished for the sins of the fathers, but I don't believe that anyone is punished for the sins of another.  Verse twenty says, His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.  I believe that this is like the rich man looking up from hell.  Those who were rich and denied God will one day see how foolish they really were.  In verse twenty one Job asks, For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?   Job asked what a person would benefit from their material possessions when they died.  We can be certain that we will take nothing of this world into everlasting life.  Any treasure we have there will be simply those laid up by serving God, and even they won't matter.  Verse twenty two asks, Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.  Though someone might think that they are the most intelligent person in the world, there is nothing that they can teach God.  As Job states, God will judge even those who feel that they are above believing in Him.  Verse twenty three states, One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.  Then verse twenty four continues, His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.  Job said that some people, in the midst of health looking forward to a long life in contentment, die suddenly.  We can never guarantee that we have even another minute in this life, no matter how young or healthy we may be.  Verse twenty five says, And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.  Some people do indeed live long lives and seem to feel nothing but bitterness in life.  If a person is denying God, then they should feel bitter about life, because without God, there is no hope.  Then, verse twenty six states, They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.  Job said that the grave is the great equalizer.  It is the place where all will go until the return of Christ in victory.  Age and wealth cannot save a person from the grave.  In verse twenty seven Job declares, Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.  Job was telling his friends that he knew they already had their minds made up about Him, but that they were wrong.  We should never approach anyone with preconceived ideas about them, but must be willing to really listen to what they have to say.  Verse twenty eight says, For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?  Job said that his friends were asking where his house or his son's house was, and stating that they were torn down as were the houses of the wicked.  Once more, this was based on serving God for material rewards and not for spiritual rewards.  In verse twenty nine Job says, Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,  Job asks his three friends to ask anyone passing by, anyone who was not attempting to apply their preconceived ideas to Job, what they thought of the idea that his friends were claiming as God's teaching.  It would indeed be sad if just anyone passing by could give us a better understanding of God than those who are supposedly acting in His name.  Verse thirty states, That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.  Job said that there was a day of judgment coming for the wicked, but it was not necessarily in this life.  Verse thirty one says, Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?  I believe that Job was saying that the wickedness of people might not be checked or punished during their lifetime.  Verse thirty two then adds, Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.  Job said that the grave equalized everything.  It doesn't matter how rich or how poor a person is.  The grave awaits everyone until Christ returns, and beyond the grave there will be the true judgment of God.  Verse thirty three states, The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.  Job said that many people had died before him and many would die after him, but this was not the final resting place of the soul.  Material things, even the body, may pass away, but the soul of people live forever.  In verse thirty four Job concludes, How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood? Job asked his friends how long they were going to attempt to comfort him with words based on lies.  If we are to be a help and comfort to those who are suffering around us today, we need to make sure that what we are telling them is God's truth and not just our own truth.  I believe that Job's friends were sincere in what they were saying, but they were wrong.