Job 18:1-9

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite made answer and said,

2 How long will it be before you have done talking? Get wisdom, and then we will say what is in our minds.

3 Why do we seem as beasts in your eyes, and as completely without knowledge?

4 But come back, now, come: you who are wounding yourself in your passion, will the earth be given up because of you, or a rock be moved out of its place?

5 For the light of the sinner is put out, and the flame of his fire is not shining.

6 The light is dark in his tent, and the light shining over him is put out.

7 The steps of his strength become short, and by his design destruction overtakes him.

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.

Job 18:1-9 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.