As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for [the reward of] his work:
Ver. 2. As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, &c.] Heb. Gapeth after, or gaspeth for his shadow; that is, for some place of cool repose after his hard labour in the hot sunshine, as in harvest; or for the shadow, that is, for dark night, or for the evening.
Cum Sol crescentes discedens duplicet umbras (Virg. Eclog.).
And as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work] Heb. Expecteth his work, that is, his wages. God's work is its own wages; and in doing thereof (not only for doing thereof) there is great reward, Psalms 19:11. Righteousness is its own recompense; but a poor hireling looketh for his wages, he sets his heart upon it, Deuteronomy 24:15, and God provideth there that it be duly paid him; and those that detain it are sorely threatened. See James 5:5 : it is a crying sin. The whole verse may cohere with the former; and be thus rendered, Is not a man as a servant that earnestly desireth the shadow? and is he not as a hireling, that looketh for the reward of his work? but it is better to join it with that which followeth, according to our translation.