(Verse 10) — Therefore you are surrounded with snares, and sudden terror troubles you. 11. To one suffering adversity they reproach the penalties of crimes. — Sudden terror troubles him who neglects to consider what threatens from the strictness of the coming Judge. Since, then, the heretics believe the faithful people to be oppressed by the guilt of faithlessness, they accuse them of being surrounded with snares. And because they suppose that they do not foresee the future, they think this people troubled with sudden terror in their affliction. And still insulting they add: (Verse 11) — And you thought you would not see darkness, and would not be overwhelmed by the rush of overflowing waters. As if he were to say openly:
You had set before yourself in hope the security of peace, and therefore you rejoiced over your presumption as though over light, nor did you ever suppose you would be crushed by tribulations. But behold, while you are afflicted by evils coming upon you, whether the things you hold are right, the very darkness of tribulations that oppress you shows. And these tribulations Eliphaz compares to overflowing waters, because, while some rush upon others, waves follow waves as though of swelling waters. There follows: