The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.
The wicked person suffers and struggles in pain throughout their entire life, and the oppressor never knows how many years they have left to live.
This verse is saying that those who do evil live in constant inner turmoil and uncertainty about their future.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Job, set in the ancient Near East, Eliphaz is one of Job's friends who argues that suffering is a direct result of sin, as he responds to Job's pleas during their debates. He uses this verse in Job 15 to claim that the wicked endure constant pain and live with hidden, uncertain futures, reflecting the ancient cultural belief that God punishes the unrighteous through hardship. This fits into the larger narrative where Job's friends offer flawed counsel, challenging Job's integrity amid his unexplained trials.
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