Job 15:21
19 to whom alone the land was given when no foreigner passed among them.
20 A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.
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.
23 He wanders about as food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
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
- Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him.
- KJV
- A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.
- WEB
- A sound of terrors is in his ears. In prosperity the destroyer will come on him.
- ASV
- A sound of terrors is in his ears; In prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.
- DARBY
- The sound of terrors is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer cometh upon him.
- BLB
- The voice of dread [is] in his ears; in prosperity, the destroyer comes upon him.
- ÅB
- Redselstoner lyder i hans ører; midt i freden kommer ødeleggeren over ham.
- OTB
- Skremmende lyder fyller hans ører;
når han er i fred, angriper røvere ham. - B1930
- Redselstoner lyder i hans ører; midt i freden kommer ødeleggeren over ham.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Job 18:11
Terrors frighten him on every side and harass his every step.
Read in context1 Thessalonians 5:3
While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
Read in contextLeviticus 26:36
As for those of you who survive, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies, so that even the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. And they will flee as one flees the sword, and fall when no one pursues them.
Read in context1 Corinthians 10:10
And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.
Read in contextJob 1:13–19
One day, while Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
Read in contextProverbs 1:26–27
in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,
Read in contextJob 20:5–7
the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?
Read in contextJob 27:20
Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest sweeps him away in the night.
Read in context