Job 18:8-18

8 His feet take him into the net, and he goes walking into the cords.

9 His foot is taken in the net; he comes into its grip.

10 The twisted cord is put secretly in the earth to take him, and the cord is placed in his way.

11 He is overcome by fears on every side, they go after him at every step.

12 His strength is made feeble for need of food, and destruction is waiting for his falling footstep.

13 His skin is wasted by disease, and his body is food for the worst of diseases.

14 He is pulled out of his tent where he was safe, and he is taken away to the king of fears.

15 In his tent will be seen that which is not his, burning stone is dropped on his house.

16 Under the earth his roots are dry, and over it his branch is cut off.

17 His memory is gone from the earth, and in the open country there is no knowledge of his name.

18 He is sent away from the light into the dark; he is forced out of the world.

Job 18:8-18 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.