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Job 18-20
Amplified Bible
Job 18-20
Amplified Bible
Bildad Speaks of the Wicked
18 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,
2
“How long will you hunt for words and continue these speeches?
Do some clear thinking and show understanding and then we can talk.
3
“Why are we regarded as beasts,
As if [we are] stupid (senseless) in your eyes?
4
“You who tear yourself apart in anger,
Is the earth to be abandoned for your sake,
Or the rock to be moved out of its place?
5
“Indeed, the light of the wicked will be put out,
And the flame of his fire will not shine.(A)
6
“The light will be dark in his tent,
And his lamp beside him will be put out.(B)
7
“The vigorous stride will be shortened,
And his own counsel and the scheme [in which he trusted] will bring his downfall.
8
“For the wicked is thrown into a net by his own feet (wickedness),
And he steps on the webbing [of the lattice-covered pit].
9
“A snare catches him by the heel,
And a trap snaps shut on him.
10
“A noose is hidden for him on the ground,
And a trap for him on the path.
11
“Terrors frighten him on every side
And chase at his heels.
12
“The strength [of the wicked] is famished and weakened,
And disaster is ready at his side [if he stops].
13
“His skin is devoured by disease;
The firstborn of death [the worst of diseases] consumes his limbs.
14
“He is torn from his tent which he trusted [for safety],
And he is marched and brought to the king of terrors (death).
15
“Nothing of his dwells in his tent;
Brimstone (burning sulfur) is scattered over his dwelling [to purify it].
16
“The roots [of the wicked] are dried up below,
And above, his branch is cut off and withers.
17
“Memory of him perishes from the earth,
And he has no name on the street.
18
“He is driven and propelled from light into darkness,
And chased from the inhabited world.
19
“He has no offspring or prosperity among his people,
Nor any survivor where he sojourned.
20
“Those in the west are astonished and appalled at his fate,
And those in the east are seized with horror.
21
“Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked and the ungodly,
And such is the place of him who does not know or recognize or honor God.”
Job Feels Insulted
19 Then Job answered and said,
2
“How long will you torment and exasperate me
And crush me with words?
3
“These ten times you have insulted me;
You are not ashamed to wrong me [and harden your hearts against me].
4
“And if it were true that I have erred,
My error would remain with me [and I would be conscious of it].
5
“If indeed you [braggarts] vaunt and magnify yourselves over me
And prove my disgrace (humiliation) to me,
6
Know then that God has wronged me and overthrown me
And has closed His net around me.
Everything Is Against Him
7
“Behold, I cry out, ‘Violence!’ but I am not heard;
I shout for help, but there is no justice.
8
“He has walled up my way so that I cannot pass,
And He has set darkness upon my paths.
9
“He has stripped me of my honor
And removed the crown from my head.
10
“He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone;
He has uprooted my hope like a tree.
11
“He has also kindled His wrath [like a fire] against me
And He considers and counts me as one of His adversaries.
12
“His troops come together
And build up their way and siege works against me
And camp around my tent.
13
“He has put my brothers far from me,
And my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.
14
“My relatives have failed [me],
And my intimate friends have forgotten me.
15
“Those who live [temporarily] in my house and my maids consider me a stranger;
I am a foreigner in their sight.
16
“I call to my servant, but he does not answer;
I have to implore him with words.
17
“My breath is repulsive to my wife,
And I am loathsome to my own brothers.
18
“Even young children despise me;
When I get up, they speak against me.
19
“All the men of my council hate me;
Those I love have turned against me.
20
“My bone clings to my skin and to my flesh,
And I have escaped [death] by the skin of my teeth.
21
“Have pity on me! Have pity on me, O you my friends,
For the hand of God has touched me.
22
“Why do you persecute me as God does?
Why are you not satisfied with my flesh (anguish)?
Job Says, “My Redeemer Lives”
23
“Oh, that the words I now speak were written!
Oh, that they were recorded in a scroll!
24
“That with an iron stylus and [molten] lead
They were engraved in the rock forever!
25
“For I know that my Redeemer and Vindicator lives,
And at the last He will take His stand upon the earth.(C)
26
“Even after my [mortal] skin is destroyed [by death],
Yet from my [immortal] flesh I will see God,
27
Whom I, even I, will see for myself,
And my eyes will see Him and not another!
My heart faints within me.
28
“If you say, ‘How shall we [continue to] persecute him?’
And ‘What pretext for a case against him can we find [since we claim the root of these afflictions is found in him]?’
29
“Then beware and be afraid of the sword [of divine vengeance] for yourselves,
For wrathful are the punishments of that sword,
So that you may know there is judgment.”
Zophar Says, “The Triumph of the Wicked Is Short”
20 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
2
“Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me answer,
Because of the uneasiness that is within me.
3
“I have heard the reproof which insults me,
But the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.
4
“Do you not know this from the old days,
Since the time that man was placed on the earth,
5
That the triumphing of the wicked is short,
And the joy of the godless is only for a moment?(D)
6
“Though his pride reaches the heavens
And his head touches the clouds,
7
Yet he perishes forever like his own refuse;
Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
8
“He flies away like a dream and cannot be found;
Yes, he is chased away like a vision of the night.
9
“The eye which saw him sees him no longer,
Neither does his [accustomed] place behold him any longer.
10
“His sons favor the poor [and pay his obligations],
And his hands give back his [ill-gotten] wealth.
11
“His bones are full of youthful strength
But it lies down with him in the dust.
12
“Though evil and wickedness are sweet in his mouth
And he hides it under his tongue,
13
Though he desires it and will not let it go
But holds it in his mouth,
14
Yet his food turns [to poison] in his stomach;
It is the venom of vipers within him.
15
“He swallows [his ill-gotten] riches,
But will vomit them up;
God will drive them out of his belly.
16
“He sucks the poison of vipers [which ill-gotten wealth contains];
The viper’s tongue slays him.
17
“He does not look at the rivers,
The flowing streams of honey and butter [to enjoy his wealth].
18
“He gives back what he has labored for and attained
And cannot swallow it [down to enjoy it];
As to the riches of his labor,
He cannot even enjoy them.
19
“For he has oppressed and neglected the poor;
He has violently taken away houses which he did not build.
20
“Because he knew no quietness or calm within him [because of his greed],
He does not retain anything he desires.
21
“There is nothing left of what he devoured;
Therefore his prosperity does not endure.
22
“In the fullness of his excess (great abundance) he will be in trouble;
The hand of everyone who suffers will come against him [he is miserable on every side].
23
“When he fills his belly,
God will send His fierce anger on him
And will rain it upon him while he is eating.(E)
24
“He may flee from the iron weapon,
But the bow of bronze will pierce him through.
25
“The arrow is drawn forth and it comes out of his back [after passing through his body];
Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall.
Terrors march in upon him;
26
Complete darkness (misfortune) is held in reserve for his treasures.
An unfanned fire will devour him;
It will consume the survivor in his tent.
27
“The heavens will reveal his wickedness and guilt,
And the earth will rise up against him.
28
“The produce and increase of his house will depart [with the victors];
His possessions will be dragged away in the day of God’s wrath.
29
“This is the wicked man’s portion from God,
And the heritage decreed and appointed to him by God.”
Job 18-20
New International Version
Job 18-20
New International Version
Bildad
18 Then Bildad the Shuhite(A) replied:
2 “When will you end these speeches?(B)
Be sensible, and then we can talk.
3 Why are we regarded as cattle(C)
and considered stupid in your sight?(D)
4 You who tear yourself(E) to pieces in your anger,(F)
is the earth to be abandoned for your sake?
Or must the rocks be moved from their place?(G)
5 “The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out;(H)
the flame of his fire stops burning.(I)
6 The light in his tent(J) becomes dark;(K)
the lamp beside him goes out.(L)
7 The vigor(M) of his step is weakened;(N)
his own schemes(O) throw him down.(P)
8 His feet thrust him into a net;(Q)
he wanders into its mesh.
9 A trap seizes him by the heel;
a snare(R) holds him fast.(S)
10 A noose(T) is hidden for him on the ground;
a trap(U) lies in his path.(V)
11 Terrors(W) startle him on every side(X)
and dog(Y) his every step.
12 Calamity(Z) is hungry(AA) for him;
disaster(AB) is ready for him when he falls.(AC)
13 It eats away parts of his skin;(AD)
death’s firstborn devours his limbs.(AE)
14 He is torn from the security of his tent(AF)
and marched off to the king(AG) of terrors.(AH)
15 Fire resides[a] in his tent;(AI)
burning sulfur(AJ) is scattered over his dwelling.
16 His roots dry up below(AK)
and his branches wither above.(AL)
17 The memory of him perishes from the earth;(AM)
he has no name(AN) in the land.(AO)
18 He is driven from light into the realm of darkness(AP)
and is banished(AQ) from the world.(AR)
19 He has no offspring(AS) or descendants(AT) among his people,
no survivor(AU) where once he lived.(AV)
20 People of the west are appalled(AW) at his fate;(AX)
those of the east are seized with horror.
21 Surely such is the dwelling(AY) of an evil man;(AZ)
such is the place(BA) of one who does not know God.”(BB)
Job
19 Then Job replied:
2 “How long will you torment(BC) me
and crush(BD) me with words?
3 Ten times(BE) now you have reproached(BF) me;
shamelessly you attack me.
4 If it is true that I have gone astray,
my error(BG) remains my concern alone.
5 If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me(BH)
and use my humiliation against me,
6 then know that God has wronged me(BI)
and drawn his net(BJ) around me.(BK)
7 “Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response;(BL)
though I call for help,(BM) there is no justice.(BN)
8 He has blocked my way so I cannot pass;(BO)
he has shrouded my paths in darkness.(BP)
9 He has stripped(BQ) me of my honor(BR)
and removed the crown from my head.(BS)
10 He tears me down(BT) on every side till I am gone;
he uproots my hope(BU) like a tree.(BV)
11 His anger(BW) burns against me;
he counts me among his enemies.(BX)
12 His troops advance in force;(BY)
they build a siege ramp(BZ) against me
and encamp around my tent.(CA)
13 “He has alienated my family(CB) from me;
my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.(CC)
14 My relatives have gone away;
my closest friends(CD) have forgotten me.
15 My guests(CE) and my female servants(CF) count me a foreigner;
they look on me as on a stranger.
16 I summon my servant, but he does not answer,
though I beg him with my own mouth.
17 My breath is offensive to my wife;
I am loathsome(CG) to my own family.
18 Even the little boys(CH) scorn me;
when I appear, they ridicule me.(CI)
19 All my intimate friends(CJ) detest me;(CK)
those I love have turned against me.(CL)
20 I am nothing but skin and bones;(CM)
I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.[b]
21 “Have pity on me, my friends,(CN) have pity,
for the hand of God has struck(CO) me.
22 Why do you pursue(CP) me as God does?(CQ)
Will you never get enough of my flesh?(CR)
23 “Oh, that my words were recorded,
that they were written on a scroll,(CS)
24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool(CT) on[c] lead,
or engraved in rock forever!(CU)
25 I know that my redeemer[d](CV) lives,(CW)
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.[e]
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet[f] in[g] my flesh I will see God;(CX)
27 I myself will see him
with my own eyes(CY)—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns(CZ) within me!
28 “If you say, ‘How we will hound(DA) him,
since the root of the trouble lies in him,[h]’
29 you should fear the sword yourselves;
for wrath will bring punishment by the sword,(DB)
and then you will know that there is judgment.[i]”(DC)
Zophar
20 Then Zophar the Naamathite(DD) replied:
2 “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer
because I am greatly disturbed.(DE)
3 I hear a rebuke(DF) that dishonors me,
and my understanding inspires me to reply.
4 “Surely you know how it has been from of old,(DG)
ever since mankind[j] was placed on the earth,
5 that the mirth of the wicked(DH) is brief,
the joy of the godless(DI) lasts but a moment.(DJ)
6 Though the pride(DK) of the godless person reaches to the heavens(DL)
and his head touches the clouds,(DM)
7 he will perish forever,(DN) like his own dung;
those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’(DO)
8 Like a dream(DP) he flies away,(DQ) no more to be found,
banished(DR) like a vision of the night.(DS)
9 The eye that saw him will not see him again;
his place will look on him no more.(DT)
10 His children(DU) must make amends to the poor;
his own hands must give back his wealth.(DV)
11 The youthful vigor(DW) that fills his bones(DX)
will lie with him in the dust.(DY)
12 “Though evil(DZ) is sweet in his mouth
and he hides it under his tongue,(EA)
13 though he cannot bear to let it go
and lets it linger in his mouth,(EB)
14 yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;(EC)
it will become the venom of serpents(ED) within him.
15 He will spit out the riches(EE) he swallowed;
God will make his stomach vomit(EF) them up.
16 He will suck the poison(EG) of serpents;
the fangs of an adder will kill him.(EH)
17 He will not enjoy the streams,
the rivers(EI) flowing with honey(EJ) and cream.(EK)
18 What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;(EL)
he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.(EM)
19 For he has oppressed the poor(EN) and left them destitute;(EO)
he has seized houses(EP) he did not build.
20 “Surely he will have no respite from his craving;(EQ)
he cannot save himself by his treasure.(ER)
21 Nothing is left for him to devour;
his prosperity will not endure.(ES)
22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;(ET)
the full force of misery will come upon him.(EU)
23 When he has filled his belly,(EV)
God will vent his burning anger(EW) against him
and rain down his blows on him.(EX)
24 Though he flees(EY) from an iron weapon,
a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.(EZ)
25 He pulls it out of his back,
the gleaming point out of his liver.
Terrors(FA) will come over him;(FB)
26 total darkness(FC) lies in wait for his treasures.
A fire(FD) unfanned will consume him(FE)
and devour what is left in his tent.(FF)
27 The heavens will expose his guilt;
the earth will rise up against him.(FG)
28 A flood will carry off his house,(FH)
rushing waters[k] on the day of God’s wrath.(FI)
29 Such is the fate God allots the wicked,
the heritage appointed for them by God.”(FJ)
Footnotes
- Job 18:15 Or Nothing he had remains
- Job 19:20 Or only by my gums
- Job 19:24 Or and
- Job 19:25 Or vindicator
- Job 19:25 Or on my grave
- Job 19:26 Or And after I awake, / though this body has been destroyed, / then
- Job 19:26 Or destroyed, / apart from
- Job 19:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts me
- Job 19:29 Or sword, / that you may come to know the Almighty
- Job 20:4 Or Adam
- Job 20:28 Or The possessions in his house will be carried off, / washed away
Amplified Bible (AMP) 
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.