Job 20:18 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

That which he laboured for shall he restore Expressed in Hebrew by only two words, משׁיב יגע, meshib jagang, literally, restituens laborem, restoring labor: that is, the goods which were gotten with labour, that of others, or his own. It may refer either to the goods of others, of which he had obtained possession, not without pains and difficulty; or to his own goods, honestly gotten by the sweat of his brow. And this may be intended as an aggravation of his misery, that he is compelled, not only to restore other men's goods, which were in his hands, but to part with his own also, to make reparation for damages. And shall not swallow it down So as to hold it: he shall not possess it long, nor to any important purpose. According to his substance shall the restitution be That is, he shall be forced to part with all his property to make compensation for his wrongs. And he shall not rejoice therein He shall not enjoy what he had gotten, because it shall be taken from him. Houbigant's translation of this verse is, He shall restore what he gained by his labour, and shall not consume it. His merchandise was abundant, but he shall not enjoy it.