Matthew Henry Commentary Job 18:5-10

"Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, And the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tent, And his lamp above him shall be put out. The steps of his strength shall be straitened, And his own counsel shall cast him down. For he is cast into a net by his own feet, And he walketh upon the toils. A gin shall take [him] by the heel, [And] a snare shall lay hold on him. A noose is hid for him in the ground, And a trap for him in the way." — Job 18:5-10 (ASV)

Bildad describes the miserable condition of a wicked man; where there is much certain truth, if we consider that a sinful condition is a sad condition, and that sin will be their ruin, if they do not repent. Though Bildad thought the application of it to Job was easy, yet it was not safe nor just. It is common for angry disputants to rank their opponents among God's enemies, and to draw wrong conclusions from important truths.

The destruction of the wicked is foretold. That destruction is represented under the likeness of a beast or bird caught in a snare, or a criminal taken into custody. Satan, as he was a murderer, so he was a robber, from the beginning. He, the tempter, lays snares for sinners wherever they go.

If he makes them sinful like himself, he will make them miserable like himself. Satan hunts for the precious life. In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare for himself, and God is preparing for his destruction. See how the sinner runs himself into the snare.