Job 18:7-17

7 His strong steps are shortened and his own schemes throw him down.

8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks on a pitfall.

9 A trap seizes him by the heel, a snare lays hold of him.

10 A rope is hid for him in the ground, a trap for him in the path.

11 Terrors frighten him on every side, and chase him at his heels.

12 His strength is hunger-bitten, and calamity is ready for his stumbling.

13 By disease his skin is consumed, the first-born of death consumes his limbs.

14 He is torn from the tent in which he trusted, and is brought to the king of terrors.

15 In his tent dwells that which is none of his; brimstone is scattered upon his habitation.

16 His roots dry up beneath, and his branches wither above.

17 His memory perishes from the earth, and he has no name in the street.

Job 18:7-17 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.