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1. That all the labour of wicked men against the Church is but labour in vain in respect of their own intent and expectation.

2. That the labour of wicked men is turned clean contrary to their own intent and expectation. These things are set down in metaphor and in express speech. Doctrine: The wicked counsels and enterprises of the enemies of the Church are not only vain in respect of others, but mischievous against themselves. God scattereth the devices of the crafty, so as they cannot accomplish what they enterprise.The misery of the enemies of the Church may be seen in four particulars.

1. All their pain and labour is for their own destruction.

2. That they live in perpetual peril of destruction.

3. That unexpected destruction comes when they expect the sweet fruit of all their labour.

4. That the mischief plotted against the greatest enemies recoils upon themselves, as a gun overcharged and recoiling. There is little cause why God's people should envy the prosperity of their enemies, or study for revenge. They should rather pity them, and pray for them, so many as are curable, for their last dish will mar all the feast. Little do they know what they are doing. They are twisting a cord to hang themselves. They are digging a pit, but the earth falls on them, and smashes them to pieces.

(T. Taylor, D. D.)

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KJV: Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

WEB: Behold, he travails with iniquity. Yes, he has conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.