Job 18:2-12

2 "When will you put an end to words? Think about it -then we'll talk!

3 Why are we thought of as cattle, stupid in your view?

4 You can tear yourself to pieces in your anger, but the earth won't be abandoned just for your sake; not even a rock will be moved from its place.

5 "The light of the wicked will flicker and die, not a spark from his fire will shine,

6 the light in his tent is darkened, the lamp over him will be snuffed out.

7 His vigorous stride is shortened, his own plans make him trip and fall.

8 For his own feet plunge him into a net, he wanders into its meshes.

9 A trap grabs him by the heel, a snare catches hold of him.

10 A noose is hidden for him in the ground; pitfalls lie in his path.

11 Terrors overwhelm him on every side and scatter about his feet.

12 "Trouble is hungry for him, calamity ready for his fall;

Job 18:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 18

In this chapter is Bildad's second reply to Job, in which he falls with great fury upon him, very sharply inveighs against him, and very highly charges him; the charges he brings against him are talkativeness and inattention to what was said to him, Job 18:1,2; contempt of his friends, impatience under his affliction, and pride and arrogance, as if the whole world, the course of nature and providence, and God himself all must give way to him, Job 18:3,4; nevertheless, he is assured of the miserable state of a wicked man, sooner or later, which is described by the extinction of his light of prosperity, Job 18:5,6; by the defeat of his counsels, being ensnared in a net laid for him, Job 18:7-10; by the terrible judgments of the sword, famine, and pestilence, by one or the other of which he is brought to death, the king of terrors, Job 18:11-14; by the destruction of his habitation and of his posterity, so that he has none to hear his name, or perpetuate his memory, Job 18:15-17; by his being driven out of the world, leaving no issue behind him, to the astonishment of all that knew him, Job 18:18-20; and the chapter is closed with this observation, that this is the common case of wicked and irreligious persons, Job 18:21.