Charles Ellicott Commentary Job 15:20

"The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, Even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor." — Job 15:20 (ASV)

Travaileth with pain. —This and the following verses contain the result of this experience. Here, again, we have a highly-colored and poetic description of the oppressor, true to the character of the speaker in Job 4:12 and following.

We should read Job 15:20: The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor. It is not an independent statement, as in the Authorized Version.

A sound of terror is forever in his ears lest the spoiler should come upon him in his prosperity—he always seems to dread his war-swoop. And this condition of darkness within, which contrasts so painfully with his outward prosperity, he sees no escape from; he is ever in fear of a sword hanging over him, like Damocles.