Albert Barnes Commentary Job 27:20

"Terrors overtake him like waters; A tempest stealeth him away in the night." — Job 27:20 (ASV)

Terrors take hold on him as waters. That is, as suddenly and violently as angry floods; compare the notes at Job 18:14.

A tempest stealeth him away. He is suddenly cut off by the wrath of God. A tempest comes upon him as unexpectedly as a thief or robber comes at night. Death is often represented as coming upon man with the silence of a thief, or the sudden violence of a robber at midnight; see the note at Job 21:17; compare Matthew 24:42-44.