John Trapp on Job 11:20

Verſe 20. But the eyes of the wicked ſhall fail] Contraries illuſtrate one another: and Zophar willing his words ſhould ſtick and work, thinks to leave a ſting in Jobs mind by telling him what he muſt truſt to if he perſiſt in his ſin. And firſt, his eyes ſhall ſaile: Ʋt vehementiùs vellicet & fodiat inopinatum, ut putabat Job[illegible: 1 letter] animum. Merl. Speed. The eye is a principal part of the body: and the failing of the eyes followeth either upon ſome ſudden fright, or upon much weeping, Damen. 2. Pſalm 88. and 38. (we read of one Faustus ſon of Vortiger King of Britain, who wept out his eyes) or too long looking after the ſame thing, or on the ſame object. The wicked, ſaith Zophar, ſhall never want frights and griefs; they ſhall alſo look many a long look after help, but none ſhall appear Lam. 4.17. their hopes ſhall be fruitleſſe their projects ſucceſſeleſſe.

And they ſhall not eſcape] Heb. refuge or flight ſhall periſh from them[illegible: 1 letter] miſeries and miſchiefs they ſhall never be able to avert or avoid; many ſorrows ſhall be to the wicked Pſalm 32.10. and although they may think to get off, of out-run them, yet it will not be, Amos 2.14. Pſalm 142.4. Saul for inſtance. God hath forſaken me, ſaith he, and the Philiſtims are upon me, 1 Sam. 28.15.

Their hope ſhall be as the giving up of the Ghoſt] Broughton rendreth it, Their hope is nought but pangs of the ſoul. Of that which yeildeth but cold comfort, we uſe to ſay, It comforteth a man like the pangs of death: the Vulgar hath it, Their hope ſhall be the abomination of their ſoul: the Tigurine, Their hope ſhall be moſt vain, even as a puffe of breath which preſently paſſeth away, and cometh to nothing. Some Rabbines make this the ſenſe, Their hope ſhall be as the ſnuffing of the breath: that is, they ſhall be ſo angry at their diſappointments, that they ſhall vex and ſnuffe at it. According to our tranſlation, the wicked mans hope is ſet forth as utterly forlorn, and at an end for any good ever to befall him. The godly mans hope is lively, 1 Pet. 1.3. and the righteous hath hope in his death, Prov. 14.32. Cum expiro ſpero is his motto: whereas the wickeds word when he dieth is, or may be, ſpes & fortuna valete, my life and hope endeth together; Spes eorùm expiratione animae, ſo Tremellius rendreth the text: Death cauſeth in the wicked a total deſpair, and a moſt dreadful ſchreek giveth the guilty ſoul, when it ſeeth it ſelf launching into an infinite ocean of ſcalding lead, and conſidereth that therein it muſt ſwim naked for ever.