English Standard Version
Job 24:18
18"You say, 'Swift are they on the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the land; no treader turns toward their vineyards.
Job 24:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.
- New International Version (NIV)“Yet they are foam on the surface of the water; their portion of the land is cursed, so that no one goes to the vineyards.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“They should be swift on the face of the waters, Their portion should be cursed in the earth, So that no one would turn into the way of their vineyards.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“But they disappear like foam down a river. Everything they own is cursed, and they are afraid to enter their own vineyards.
Context of Job 24:18
16In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves up; they do not know the light. 17For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness. "You say, 'Swift are they on the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the land; no treader turns toward their vineyards. 19Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters; so does Sheol those who have sinned. 20The womb forgets them; the worm finds them sweet; they are no longer remembered, so wickedness is broken like a tree.'
Read all of Job 24Job 24:18 word by word
קַֽל־ה֤וּא׀ עַל־פְּנֵי־מַ֗יִם תְּקֻלַּ֣ל חֶלְקָתָ֣ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ לֹֽא־יִ֝פְנֶה דֶּ֣רֶךְ כְּרָמִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- swiftקַלqal · swiftH7031
- as the watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
- as the watersפָּנֶהpânîym · face: surfaceH6440
- their portionחֶלְקָהchelqâh · portionH2513
- is cursedקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
- in the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- he beholdethפָּנָהpânâh · to turnH6437
- not the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: roadH1870
- of the vineyardsכֶּרֶםkerem · vineyardH3754
Cross-references for Job 24:18
- Psalms 58:7Let them vanish like water that runs away; when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted.
- Psalms 73:18Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.
- Isaiah 23:10Cross over your land like the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish; there is no restraint anymore.
- Deuteronomy 28:16Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field.
- Psalms 69:22Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.
- Proverbs 3:33The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
- Malachi 2:2If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.
Commentaries on Job 24:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18He is swift as the waters - Literally, Light is he on the face of the waters: and cursed shall be their portion on the earth, which Mr. Good translates: - Miserable is this man on the waters: Deeply miserable the lot of those on dry land. He beholdeth not the way of the vineyards - These no longer flourish or bring forth fruit. The labor of the vintage fails.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18He is swift as the waters - Noyes renders this, “They are as swift as the skiff upon the waters.” Dr. Good, “Miserable is this man upon the waters.” Wemyss, “Such should be as foam upon the waters.” Le Clerc says that there is scarcely any passage of the Scriptures more obscure than this, and the variety of rendering adopted will show at once the perplexity of expositors. Rosenmuller supposes that the particle of comparison (כ k ) is to be understood, and…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 Sometimes how gradual is the decay, how quiet the departure of a wicked person, how is he honoured, and how soon are all his cruelties and oppressions forgotten! They are taken off with other men, as the harvestman gathers the ears of corn as they come to hand. There will often appear much to resemble the wrong view of Providence Job takes in this chapter. But we are taught by the word of inspiration, that these notions are formed in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-24These ideas seem to go against Job's observations. Some scholars think Bildad or Zophar might have said them. However, Job might have been speaking against evil people, making fun of his friends' opinions by quoting them. Or he might have meant that the fate of evil people also affects those in a right relationship with God. His friends described this earlier (5:2–7; 15:17–25; 8:8–19; 18:5–21; 20:4–29; 21:23–26).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-242-24. Instances of the wicked doing the worst deeds with seeming impunity (Job 24:2-24). Some--the wicked. landmarks--boundaries between different pastures (De 19:14; Pr 22:28).Read the comment
Topics related to Job 24:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 24
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries