Job 18
Job 18 is part of “Second Cycle of Dialogue” (15–21) in the outline of Job.
Job 18 summary
In this chapter Bildad makes a second assault upon Job. In his first discourse (ch. 8) he had given him encouragement to hope that all should yet be well with him. But here there is not a word of that; he has grown more peevish, and is so far from being convinced by Job's reasonings that he is but more exasperated. I.
Read the full introduction
In this chapter Bildad makes a second assault upon Job. In his first discourse (ch. 8) he had given him encouragement to hope that all should yet be well with him. But here there is not a word of that; he has grown more peevish, and is so far from being convinced by Job's reasonings that he is but more exasperated. I. He sharply reproves Job as haughty and passionate, and obstinate in his opinion (Job 18:1-4). II. He enlarges upon the doctrine he had before maintained, concerning the miser of wicked people and the ruin that attends them (v. 5-21). In this he seems, all along, to have an eye to Job's complaints of the miserable condition he was in, that he was in the dark, bewildered, ensnared, terrified, and hastening out of the world. "This," says Bildad, "is the condition of a wicked man; and therefore thou art one."
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Job 18 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
Bildad's Second Speech: The Fate of the Wicked
1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, 2When will yee make an ende of your words? cause vs to vnderstande, and then wee will speake. 3Wherefore are wee counted as beastes, and are vile in your sight? 4Thou art as one that teareth his soule in his anger. Shall the earth bee forsaken for thy sake? or the rocke remoued out of his place? 5Yea, the light of the wicked shalbe quenched, and the sparke of his fire shall not shine. 6The light shalbe darke in his dwelling, and his candle shalbe put out with him. 7The steps of his strength shalbe restrained, and his owne counsell shall cast him downe. 8For hee is taken in the net by his feete, and he walketh vpon the snares. 9The grenne shall take him by the heele, and the theefe shall come vpon him. 10A snare is layed for him in the ground, and a trappe for him in the way. 11Fearefulnesse shall make him afrayde on euery side, and shall driue him to his feete. 12His strength shalbe famine: and destruction shalbe readie at his side. 13It shall deuoure the inner partes of his skinne, and the first borne of death shall deuoure his strength. 14His hope shalbe rooted out of his dwelling, and shall cause him to go to the King of feare. 15Feare shall dwell in his house (because it is not his) and brimstone shalbe scattered vpon his habitation. 16His rootes shalbe dryed vp beneath, and aboue shall his branche be cut downe. 17His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall haue no name in the streete. 18They shall driue him out of the light vnto darkenesse, and chase him out of the world. 19Hee shall neither haue sonne nor nephewe among his people, nor any posteritie in his dwellings. 20The posteritie shalbe astonied at his day, and feare shall come vpon the ancient. 21Surely such are the habitations of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.