18:1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered: 

 

Bildad the traditionalist listened and then gave his second response to Job.

 

18:2 “How long until you make an end of words? You must consider, and then we can talk. 

 

Bildad told Job that he was talking too much. Job needed to shut his mouth and listen to their wisdom.

 

18:3 Why should we be regarded as beasts, and considered stupid in your sight? 

 

Bildad was saying that he and his friends were not stupid beasts. Job should listen to their advice.

 

18:4 You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger, will the earth be abandoned for your sake? Or will a rock be moved from its place?

 

Job had commented that God was tearing him to pieces. Bildad said that Job was tearing himself to pieces. God is not going to change reality and move rocks around just because of Job’s complaints.

 

18:5 “Yes, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished; his flame of fire does not shine. 

 

Bildad gave several metaphors which describe the wicked. In each of these metaphors, he had Job in mind. Job was like a lamp in the house whose flame was extinguished.

 

18:6 The light in his tent grows dark; his lamp above him is extinguished. 

 

Bildad was saying that Job’s flame was extinguished, which left him in darkness and confusion.

 

18:7 His vigorous steps are restricted, and his own counsel throws him down. 

 

Bildad was saying that Job was thrown down to the ground by his own wicked schemes. His own wicked schemes boomeranged and knocked Job to the ground.

 

18:8 For he has been thrown into a net by his feet and he wanders into a mesh. 

 

Bildad was saying that Job was caught in his own wicked net.

 

18:9 A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare grips him. 

 

Bildad was saying that Job was caught in his own snare.

 

18:10 A rope is hidden for him on the ground and a trap for him lies on the path. 

 

Bildad was saying that the wicked Job was caught by a rope on the ground in which he had set for others. Job was caught by his own wicked trap.

 

18:11 Terrors frighten him on all sides and dog his every step. 

 

Bildad was saying that Job had developed terror all around him. He needed to be careful and watch his step.

 

18:12 Calamity is hungry for him, and misfortune is ready at his side.

 

Bildad was saying that calamity and misfortune were hungry. They wished to devour the wicked Job.

 

18:13 It eats away parts of his skin; the most terrible death devours his limbs. 

 

Bildad was saying that disease ate away at Job’ skin because of his evil. Bildad was referring to Job’s skin problem. Diseases are death’s children, because they serve death. Therefore, disease was eating away the skin of the wicked Job.

 

18:14 He is dragged from the security of his tent, and marched off to the king of terrors. 

 

Bildad was saying that death will drag Job out of his tent and march him to Hell.

 

18:15 Fire resides in his tent; over his residence burning sulfur is scattered. 

 

Bildad was saying that Job was so wicked, that his residence will be burned.

 

18:16 Below his roots dry up, and his branches wither above. 

 

Bildad was saying that Job was so evil, that he is like a tree with dried up roots. His branches wither and the tree dies.

 

18:17 His memory perishes from the earth, he has no name in the land. 

 

Bildad was saying that Job was so wicked, that the memory of him would pass from the earth. The opposite happened. Job’s name has been known on every continent all through history.

 

18:18 He is driven from light into darkness and is banished from the world. 

 

Bildad was saying that Job was so wicked, that he would be driven from light to darkness. He would be banished from the world.

 

18:19 He has neither children nor descendants among his people, no survivor in those places he once stayed. 

 

Bildad was saying that Job was so wicked, that he would have no survivors to carry on his name. This was a terrible fate in the Middle East. Job did lose all of his children, but God did bless him with more children.

 

18:20 People of the west are appalled at his fate; people of the east are seized with horror, saying, 

 

Bildad was saying that people all over the world would be appalled at the fate of Job. Again, the opposite happened. Job’s name has been honored all over the world. God even called Noah, Job, and Daniel the three most righteous men of the earth.

 

18:21 ‘Surely such is the residence of an evil man; and this is the place of one who has not known God.’ ”

 

Bildad was saying that Job will get what is coming to him. He will receive the residence that an evil man deserves. He also claimed that Job did not know God. 

 

Job’s friends do not understand the situation. Instead of comforting Job, they attacked him. If God allows, then Satan will cripple a god-fearing man and bring friends and family members to attack him.