Matthew Poole and continuators on 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 rejoyce therein .

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 mens goods which were in his hands, but his own also to make reparation for their damages.

To wit, so as to hold it; for otherwise he did swallow it, but withal did speedily vomit it up again, v. 15. which was as if he had not swallowed it. He shall not possess it long, nor to any considerable purpose.

i. e. He shall be forced to part with all his Estate to make compensation for his wrongs done to others.

i. e. He shall not enjoy what he had gotten, because it shall be taken from him.

Marginal references: Heb. according to the substance of his exchange.