Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

Indeed, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished; the flame of his fire does not glow.

“That (Job 18:4) cannot be. The decree of God is unalterable, the light (prosperity) of the wicked shall at length be put out.”

His strength is depleted, and calamity is ready at his side.

“The Hebrew is brief and bold, "his strength is hungry." destruction--that is, a great calamity (Pr 1:27). ready at his side--close at hand to destroy him (Pr 19:29).”

It devours patches of his skin; the firstborn of death devours his limbs.

“UMBREIT has "he" for "it," that is, "in the rage of hunger he shall devour his own body"; or, "his own children" (La 4:10). Rather, "destruction" from Job 18:12 is nominative to "devour." strength--rather, "members" (literally, the "branches" of a tree).”

Fire resides in his tent; burning sulfur rains down on his dwelling.

“It--"Terror" shall haunt, &c., and not as UMBREIT, "another," which the last clause of the verse disproves. none of his--It is his no longer.”

“How long will you torment me and crush me with your words?

“How long, &c.--retorting Bildad's words (Job 18:2). Admitting the punishment to be deserved, is it kind thus ever to be harping on this to the sufferer?”

Ten times now you have reproached me; you shamelessly mistreat me.

“(See Margin for a different meaning [that is, "harden yourselves against me"]). 4.erred--The Hebrew expresses unconscious error. Job was unconscious of wilful sin. remaineth--literally, "passeth the night." An image from harboring an unpleasant guest for the night.”

I wish that my words were recorded and inscribed in a book,

“Despairing of justice from his friends in his lifetime, he wishes his words could be preserved imperishably to posterity, attesting his hope of vindication at the resurrection. printed--not our modern printing, but engraven.”

Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.

“Rather, though after my skin (is no more) this (body) is destroyed ("body" being omitted, because it was so wasted as not to deserve the name), yet from my flesh (from my renewed body, as the starting-point of vision, So 2:9, "looking out from the…”

If you say, ‘Let us persecute him, since the root of the matter lies with him,’

“Rather, "ye will then (when the Vindicator cometh) say, Why," &c. root . . . in me--The root of pious integrity, which was the matter at issue, whether it could be in one so afflicted, is found in me.”

The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie down with him in the dust.

“UMBREIT translates, "full of his secret sins," as in Ps 90:8; his secret guilt in his time of seeming righteousness, like secret poison, at last lays him in the dust. The English Version is best. Zophar alludes to Job's own words (Job 17:16).”

He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading.

“Image from food which is taken away from one before he can swallow it. restitution--(So Pr 6:31). The parallelism favors the English Version rather than the translation of GESENIUS, "As a possession to be restored in which he rejoices not."”

Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.

“UMBREIT translates, "His inward parts know no rest" from desires. his belly--that is, peace inwardly. not save--literally, "not escape with that which," &c., alluding to Job's having been stripped of his all.”

Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.

“Tact is shown by the friends in not expressly mentioning, but alluding under color of general cases, to Job's calamities; here (Job 1:16) UMBREIT explains it, wickedness, is a "self-igniting fire"; in it lie the principles of destruction. ill . . .”

Is my complaint against a man? Then why should I not be impatient?

“Job's difficulty was not as to man, but as to God, why He so afflicted him, as if he were the guilty hypocrite which the friends alleged him to be. Vulgate translates it, "my disputation." if it were--rather, "since this is the case."”

When I remember, terror takes hold, and my body trembles in horror.

“Can you wonder that I broke out into complaints, when the struggle was not with men, but with the Almighty? Reconcile, if you can, the ceaseless woes of the innocent with the divine justice! Is it not enough to make one tremble? [UMBREIT].”

Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?

“Ro 9:22. old--in opposition to the friends who asserted that sinners are "cut off" early (Job 8:12, 14).”

Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways.

“Therefore--rather, "And yet they are such as say," &c., that is, say, not in so many words, but virtually, by their conduct (so the Gergesenes, Mt 8:34).”

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’

“Pr 30:9, Margin, Ex 5:2). what profit-- (Job 35:3; Sinners ask, not what is right, but what is for the profit of self. They forget, "If religion cost self something, the want of it will cost self infinitely more."”

How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come upon them? Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction?

“Job in this whole passage down to Job 21:21 quotes the assertion of the friends, as to the short continuance of the sinner's prosperity, not his own sentiments.”

It is said that God lays up one’s punishment for his children. Let God repay the man himself, so he will know it.

“Equally questionable is the friends' assertion that if the godless himself is not punished, the children are (Job 18:19; 20:10); and that God rewardeth him here for his iniquity, and that he shall know it to his cost.”

For what does he care about his household after him, when the number of his months has run out?

“It is therefore necessary that "his eyes should see his and their destruction" (see Job 14:21). cut off--rather, when the number of his allotted months is fulfilled (Job 14:5). From an Arabic word, "arrow," which was used to draw lots with.”

Have you never asked those who travel the roads? Do you not accept their reports?

“Job, seeing that the friends will not admit him as an impartial judge, as they consider his calamities prove his guilt, begs them to ask the opinion of travellers (La 1:12), who have the experience drawn from observation, and who are no way connected with…”

Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of calamity, delivered from the day of wrath.

“Their testimony (referring perhaps to those who had visited the region where Abraham who enjoyed a revelation then lived) is that "the wicked is (now) spared (reserved) against the day of destruction (hereafter)."”

He is carried to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.

“Yet--rather, "and." brought--with solemn pomp (Ps 45:15). grave--literally, "graves"; that is, the place where the graves are. remain in--rather, watch on the tomb, or sepulchral mound.”

The clods of the valley are sweet to him; everyone follows behind him, and those before him are without number.

“As the classic saying has it, "The earth is light upon him." His repose shall be "sweet." draw--follow. He shall share the common lot of mortals; no worse off than they (Heb 9:27). UMBREIT not so well (for it is not true of "every man").”