Job 20:18 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

That which he laboured for, Heb. labour, i.e. the goods which were gotten with labour; either,

1. By the labour of others; or rather,

2. By his own labour; which may relate as well to the goods of others, which he got not without pains and difficulty; or to his own goods honestly gotten by the sweat of his brows. And this is an aggravation of his misery, that he was forced to restore not only other men's goods which were in his hands, but his own also, to make reparation for their damages. Shall not swallow it down, to wit, so as to hold it; for otherwise he did swallow it, but withal did speedily vomit it up again, Job 20:15, which was as if he had not swallowed it. He shall not possess it long, nor to any considerable purpose. According to his substance shall the restitution be, i.e. he shall be forced to part with all his estate to make compensation for his wrongs done to others. He shall not rejoice therein, i.e. he shall not enjoy what he hath gotten, because it shall be taken from him.

Job 20:18

18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.