He is swift as the waters. "Locus obscurissimus" (Schulteus). Scarcely any two commentators agree even as to the subject on which Job proceeds to speak. Some regard him as giving his own judgment on the ultimate fate of the wicked; others, as anticipating what his opponents will say on the point.
One recent expositor takes the passage as referring to the efforts made by the malefactors of verses 14-16 to escape from justice, and to the discredit and difficulty in which they involve themselves.
Another suggests that Job here calls attention to a fresh class of oppressors, viz. water-thieves (see Strabo, Job 16:18), who, starting in light boats from some island in a lake or river, plundered the neighbouring lands, making the portions of the landholders worthless, and causing them to neglect the cultivation, even of their vineyards.
If we accept this view, the proper translation of the present verse will be, Swift is he (i.e. the water-thief) upon the face of the waters: then is the portion of them who dwell in the land worthless; no one turneth his face toward his vine.
yards.