Behold, he That is, the wicked, travaileth with iniquity, &c. This metaphor denotes his deep design and vigorous endeavours for doing mischief; and his restlessness and pain till he have accomplished it. “When an evil thought,” says Dr. Horne, “is instilled into the heart of man, then the seed of the wicked one is sown; by admitting, retaining, and cherishing the diabolical suggestion in his mind he ‘conceiveth' a purpose of mischief; when that purpose is gradually formed and matured for the birth, he ‘travaileth with iniquity;' at length, by carrying it into action, he
‘bringeth forth falsehood.' The purity of the soul, like that of the body, from whence the image is borrowed, must be preserved by keeping out of the way of temptation.”