They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.
Bitter irony, illustrating the "unfruitfulness" (Job 15:34) of the wicked. Their conceptions and birth-givings consist solely in mischief etc.
Bring forth vanity. Their plans, when on the eve of execution, are brought to nought (Psalms 7:14-15; Isaiah 59:4; Isaiah 33:11, "Ye, shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble").
Their belly - as a womb.
Prepareth - hatcheth.
Deceit - what deceives their expectation. The evil which they meditate against others falls on themselves.
Remarks:
(1) Nothing more exhibit a man's wisdom, or betrays his folly, than the character of his speech (Job 15:2-3). "Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge! Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom" (James 3:13). But the sinner's own mouth condemns him, and his own lips testify against him (Job 15:6). (2) How suicidal is the folly of the ungodly in putting away from him in time of trouble the only solace, the true source of peace, namely, "the consolations of God" (Job 15:11). Pride is at the root of his rejection of God's offer of love. Self-willed impatience and passion lead him to fret aganist God, instead of bowing humbly, to God (Job 15:12-13). "The wicked through the pride of his countenance will not seek after God" (Psalms 10:4; cf. Jeremiah 13:17). The godly weep in secret for the pride which keeps the ungodly from hearkening to our loving God. But Job was not such a one as the friends thought him to be. It is true, the severity of his Satan-inflicted trials clouded his spiritual perceptions for a time, and led him to use unwarranted language in justification of himself and complaint against God; but, in the main, Job was a sincere, humble, and consistent worshipper. This teaches us not to be too ready in supplying to others, without the surest proof, Scripture condemnations of pride and hypocrisy, which, however true in the abstract, are untrue in the particular case wherein we apply them.
(3) The state of the ungodly man, however seemingly prosperous, is anything but an enviable state. Anxieties and apprehensions mar most of his enjoyments (Job 15:20). He knows not how soon his days shall end. Conscience, from time to time, creates within an uneasy misgiving and an alarm, as though some unforeseen and undefined calamity is coming upon him (Job 15:20-22). This is the necessary consequence of his lifting himself up against God (Job 15:25; Job 15:27). As men sow they shall also reap. Sinners shall eat of the fruit of their own way, sod shall be filled with their own devices (Proverbs 1:31). The man who trusts in vanity-and all sin is vanity-shall have vanity for has righteous recompence.