Job 15:20
18 what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers,
19 to whom alone the land was given when no foreigner passed among them.
A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.
21 Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him.
22 He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.
- KJV
- The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.
- WEB
- the wicked man writhes in pain all his days, even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.
- ASV
- The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, Even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.
- DARBY
- All his days the wicked man is tormented, and numbered years are allotted to the violent.
- BLB
- All the days of the wicked, he is writhing, and the number of years is hidden for the ruthless.
- ÅB
- En ugudelig lever i angst alle sine dager, og få i tall er de år som er gjemt for voldsmannen.
- OTB
- Den onde personen lider pine alle sine dager,
og årene reservert for de hensynsløse er begrenset. - B1930
- En ugudelig lever i angst alle sine dager, og få i tall er de år som er gjemt for voldsmannen.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
James 5:1–6
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.
Read in contextJob 27:13
This is the wicked man’s portion from God— the heritage the ruthless receive from the Almighty.
Read in contextJob 24:1
“Why does the Almighty not reserve times for judgment? Why may those who know Him never see His days?
Read in contextLuke 12:19–21
Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
Read in contextPsalms 90:12
So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom.
Read in contextPsalms 90:3–4
You return man to dust, saying, “Return, O sons of mortals.”
Read in contextEcclesiastes 9:3
This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead.
Read in contextRomans 8:22
We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time.
Read in context