Job 18:7-17

7 The steps of his strength shall be shortened, His own counsel shall cast him down.
8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, And he wanders into its mesh.
9 A snare shall take him by the heel; A trap shall lay hold on him.
10 A noose is hidden for him in the ground, A trap for him in the way.
11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, And shall chase him at his heels.
12 His strength shall be famished, Calamity shall be ready at his side.
13 The members of his body shall be devoured, The firstborn of death shall devour his members.
14 He shall be rooted out of his tent where he trusts. He shall be brought to the king of terrors.
15 There shall dwell in his tent that which is none of his. Sulfur shall be scattered on his habitation.
16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, Above shall his branch be cut off.
17 His memory shall perish from the earth. He shall have 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.

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