Yet God prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; they rise up when they have despaired of life, suggesting the paradox that God's power apparently sustains the wicked despite their deserving destruction. The prolonging of mighty life despite despair indicates that even when the consequences of their wickedness might reasonably have destroyed them, divine power somehow preserves them. The rising up when despair seems appropriate suggests that the wicked retain vitality even when circumstance should have reduced them, implying divine sustenance of those who misuse power. This verse addresses Job's deepest complaint: if God can sustain life, why sustains the wicked while permitting the innocent to perish?

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