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Bildad Talks

18 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered, “How long will you keep talking? Show understanding and then we can talk. Why are we thought of as animals? Why do you see us as not being able to think? You who tear yourself in your anger, will the earth be left alone because of you? Or will the rocks be moved from their place?

“Yes, the light of the sinful is put out. His fire does not give light. The light in his tent is made dark, and his lamp goes out above him. His strong steps are made short, and his own plans make him fall. For he is thrown down into a net by his own feet and walks on it. A trap catches him by the foot and holds him. 10 A tied rope is hidden in the ground for him. A trap is set for him on the path. 11 He is filled with fear on every side. It follows him at every step. 12 His strength leaves him because trouble is waiting for him at every side. 13 His skin is eaten by disease and the beginning of death eats his legs. 14 He is taken away from his tent where he was safe, and is brought to the king of fears. 15 Fire destroys everything in his tent and sulphur is spread where he lives. 16 His roots are dried below and his branch is cut off above. 17 No one on earth will remember him. His name will not be known in the land. 18 He is sent from light into darkness, and driven away from where people live. 19 He has no children among his people to carry on his name where he lived. 20 Those in the west are surprised and afraid at what happened to him. And those in the east are filled with fear. 21 For sure, these are the houses of the sinful. This is the place of him who does not know God.”

Job Talks

19 Then Job answered, “How long will you make me suffer and crush me with words? Ten times you have put me to shame and are not ashamed to wrong me. Even if it is true that I have done wrong, it stays with me. You put yourselves up high against me, and try to prove my shame to me. You will know then that God has wronged me, and has set a trap around me.

“See, I cry, ‘Someone is hurting me!’ but I get no answer. I call for help, but no one stands for what is right and fair. He has built a wall in my way so that I cannot pass. And He has put darkness on my paths. He has taken my honor from me, and taken the crown from my head. 10 He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone. He has pulled up my hope like a tree. 11 He has made His anger burn against me, and thinks of me as one who fights against Him. 12 His armies come together and build a path against me. They camp around my tent.

13 “He has taken my brothers far away from me and my friends have all left me. 14 My brothers have left me, and my close friends have forgotten me. 15 Those who live in my house and my women servants think of me as a stranger. I am like one from another country in their eyes. 16 I call to my servant, but he does not answer. I have to beg him. 17 My breath smells bad to my wife, and I am hated by my own brothers. 18 Even young children hate me. When I get up they speak against me. 19 All my friends hate me. Those I love have turned against me. 20 I am only skin and flesh. And I have gotten away only 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 hit me. 22 Why do you make it hard for me as God does? Have I not suffered enough to please you?

23 “If only my words were written! If only they were written down in a book! 24 If only they were cut forever into the rock with an iron cutter and lead! 25 But as for me, I know that the One Who bought me and made me free from sin lives, and that He will stand upon the earth in the end. 26 Even after my skin is destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. 27 I myself will see Him. With my own eyes I will see Him and not another. My heart becomes weak within me. 28 If you say, ‘How will we make it hard for him?’ and, ‘The root of the problem is in him,’ 29 you should be afraid of the sword for yourselves. For anger is punished by the sword, that you may know there is punishment for wrong-doing.”

Zophar Talks

20 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, “My troubled thoughts make me answer, because I have no rest inside. I heard the strong words that take away my honor. The spirit of my understanding makes me answer. Do you not know from long ago, since man was put on earth, that the honor of the sinful is short, and the joy of the sinful lasts only a short time? Even if his pride is as high as the heavens and his head touches the clouds, he will be gone forever, like his own waste. Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ He will fly away like a dream, and not be found. He will be driven away like a dream of the night. The eye which saw him will see him no more. His place will no longer see him. 10 His sons will look for the favor of the poor. And his hands will give back his riches. 11 His bones are full of the strength of the young, but it will lie down with him in the dust.

12 “Sin is sweet in his mouth. He hides it under his tongue. 13 He hates to let it go, and holds it in his mouth. 14 Yet his food in his stomach is changed to the poison of snakes inside him. 15 He eats riches, but will spit them up. God will take them out of his stomach. 16 He will drink the poison of snakes. The snake’s tongue will kill him. 17 He will not look at the rivers, the rivers flowing with honey and milk. 18 He must return what he has worked for, and can not eat it. He will not have joy from the riches of his trading. 19 For he has taken from the poor and left them with nothing. He has taken houses which he has not built.

20 “Because he thought he never had enough, he has nothing that gives him joy. 21 There was nothing more for him to get, so his having everything will not last. 22 Even when he has many riches, he will have trouble. Everyone who suffers will come against him. 23 When he fills his stomach, God will send His great anger on him. He will send it on him while he is eating. 24 He may get away from the iron sword, but the brass bow will shoot an arrow in him. 25 It cuts through his body and comes out of his back. The shining arrow comes out of his liver. Much fear comes upon him. 26 Complete darkness is stored up for his riches. A fire not kept going by man will burn him up. It will destroy all that is left in his tent. 27 The heavens will make his sin known, and the earth will rise up against him. 28 The things of his house will be carried away. They will be taken away in the day of God’s anger. 29 This is what God has for sinful men. It is what God chooses to give to them.”

Bildad

18 Then Bildad the Shuhite(A) replied:

“When will you end these speeches?(B)
    Be sensible, and then we can talk.
Why are we regarded as cattle(C)
    and considered stupid in your sight?(D)
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)

“The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out;(H)
    the flame of his fire stops burning.(I)
The light in his tent(J) becomes dark;(K)
    the lamp beside him goes out.(L)
The vigor(M) of his step is weakened;(N)
    his own schemes(O) throw him down.(P)
His feet thrust him into a net;(Q)
    he wanders into its mesh.
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:

“How long will you torment(BC) me
    and crush(BD) me with words?
Ten times(BE) now you have reproached(BF) me;
    shamelessly you attack me.
If it is true that I have gone astray,
    my error(BG) remains my concern alone.
If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me(BH)
    and use my humiliation against me,
then know that God has wronged me(BI)
    and drawn his net(BJ) around me.(BK)

“Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response;(BL)
    though I call for help,(BM) there is no justice.(BN)
He has blocked my way so I cannot pass;(BO)
    he has shrouded my paths in darkness.(BP)
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:

“My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer
    because I am greatly disturbed.(DE)
I hear a rebuke(DF) that dishonors me,
    and my understanding inspires me to reply.

“Surely you know how it has been from of old,(DG)
    ever since mankind[j] was placed on the earth,
that the mirth of the wicked(DH) is brief,
    the joy of the godless(DI) lasts but a moment.(DJ)
Though the pride(DK) of the godless person reaches to the heavens(DL)
    and his head touches the clouds,(DM)
he will perish forever,(DN) like his own dung;
    those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’(DO)
Like a dream(DP) he flies away,(DQ) no more to be found,
    banished(DR) like a vision of the night.(DS)
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

  1. Job 18:15 Or Nothing he had remains
  2. Job 19:20 Or only by my gums
  3. Job 19:24 Or and
  4. Job 19:25 Or vindicator
  5. Job 19:25 Or on my grave
  6. Job 19:26 Or And after I awake, / though this body has been destroyed, / then
  7. Job 19:26 Or destroyed, / apart from
  8. Job 19:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts me
  9. Job 19:29 Or sword, / that you may come to know the Almighty
  10. Job 20:4 Or Adam
  11. Job 20:28 Or The possessions in his house will be carried off, / washed away