Job 20:22

22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him; the full force of misery will come upon him.

Job 20:22 in Other Translations

KJV
22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.
ESV
22 In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress; the hand of everyone in misery will come against him.
NLT
22 “In the midst of plenty, they will run into trouble and be overcome by misery.
MSG
22 Just when they think they have it all, disaster strikes; they're served up a plate full of misery.
CSB
22 At the height of his success distress will come to him; the full weight of misery will crush him.

Job 20:22 Meaning and Commentary

Job 20:22

In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits
For though he may not only have a sufficient competency to live upon, but even a fulness of temporal blessings, have as much as heart can wish, or more, even good things, and plenty of them laid up for many years; yet amidst it all shall be reduced to the utmost straits and difficulties, either through fear of losing what he has, insomuch that his abundance will not suffer him to sleep in the night, nor to enjoy an hour's pleasure in the day; or being so narrow spirited, notwithstanding his fulness, that he cannot allow himself to eat of the fruit of his labours, and rejoice therein; or fearing, notwithstanding all his plenty, that he shall come to want and poverty; or rather while he is in the most flourishing circumstances, and in the height of his prosperity, he is suddenly, as Nebuchadnezzar was, dispossessed of all, and reduced to the utmost extremity, ( Daniel 4:31-33 ) ; the Targum is,

``when his measure is filled, he shall take vengeance on him:''

every hand of the wicked shall come upon him:
or of the labourer, as the Targum, the hire of whose labour he has detained, or has taken away from him that which he laboured for; and so Broughton,

``the hand of the injured or grieved;''

such as he had been injurious to, and had grieved by his oppressions of them; or rather every troublesome wicked man, the hand of every thief or robber; respect seems to be had to the hand of the Sabeans and Chaldeans, that had been on Job and his substance.

Job 20:22 In-Context

20 “Surely he will have no respite from his craving; he cannot save himself by his treasure.
21 Nothing is left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure.
22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him; the full force of misery will come upon him.
23 When he has filled his belly, God will vent his burning anger against him and rain down his blows on him.
24 Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Judges 2:15; Luke 12:16-20
  • 2. ver 29; Job 21:17,30; Job 31:2-3
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