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Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked

18 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:

‘How long will you hunt for words?
    Consider, and then we shall speak.
Why are we counted as cattle?
    Why are we stupid in your sight?
You who tear yourself in your anger—
    shall the earth be forsaken because of you,
    or the rock be removed out of its place?

‘Surely the light of the wicked is put out,
    and the flame of their fire does not shine.
The light is dark in their tent,
    and the lamp above them is put out.
Their strong steps are shortened,
    and their own schemes throw them down.
For they are thrust into a net by their own feet,
    and they walk into a pitfall.
A trap seizes them by the heel;
    a snare lays hold of them.
10 A rope is hid for them in the ground,
    a trap for them in the path.
11 Terrors frighten them on every side,
    and chase them at their heels.
12 Their strength is consumed by hunger,[a]
    and calamity is ready for their stumbling.
13 By disease their skin is consumed,[b]
    the firstborn of Death consumes their limbs.
14 They are torn from the tent in which they trusted,
    and are brought to the king of terrors.
15 In their tents nothing remains;
    sulphur is scattered upon their habitations.
16 Their roots dry up beneath,
    and their branches wither above.
17 Their memory perishes from the earth,
    and they have no name in the street.
18 They are thrust from light into darkness,
    and driven out of the world.
19 They have no offspring or descendant among their people,
    and no survivor where they used to live.
20 They of the west are appalled at their fate,
    and horror seizes those of the east.
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the ungodly,
    such is the place of those who do not know God.’

Footnotes

  1. Job 18:12 Or Disaster is hungry for them
  2. Job 18:13 Cn: Heb It consumes the limbs of his skin

Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked

18 Then (A)Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

“How long will you (B)hunt for words?
    Consider, and then we will speak.
Why are we counted as (C)cattle?
    Why are we stupid in your sight?
You who (D)tear yourself in your anger,
    shall the earth be forsaken for you,
    or (E)the rock be removed out of its place?

“Indeed, (F)the light of the wicked is put out,
    and the flame of his fire does not shine.
The light is (G)dark in his tent,
    and his lamp above him is put out.
His strong steps are shortened,
    and his (H)own schemes throw him down.
For he is cast into a net by his own feet,
    and he walks on its mesh.
(I)A trap seizes him by the heel;
    a snare lays hold of him.
10 A rope is hidden for him in the ground,
    a trap for him in the path.
11 (J)Terrors frighten him on every side,
    and chase him at his heels.
12 His strength is famished,
    and calamity is (K)ready for his stumbling.
13 It consumes the parts of his skin;
    (L)the firstborn of death consumes his limbs.
14 He is torn from the tent in which he trusted
    and is brought to (M)the king of terrors.
15 In his tent dwells that which is none of his;
    (N)sulfur is scattered over his habitation.
16 His (O)roots dry up beneath,
    and his branches (P)wither above.
17 His (Q)memory perishes from the earth,
    and he has no name in the street.
18 (R)He is thrust from light into darkness,
    and driven out of the world.
19 He has no (S)posterity or progeny among his people,
    and no survivor where he used to live.
20 They of the west are appalled at his (T)day,
    and (U)horror seizes them of the east.
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous,
    such is the place of him who (V)knows not God.”

Bildad: The Wicked Are Punished

18 Then (A)Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

“How long till you put an end to words?
Gain understanding, and afterward we will speak.
Why are we counted (B)as beasts,
And regarded as stupid in your sight?
(C)You[a] who tear yourself in anger,
Shall the earth be forsaken for you?
Or shall the rock be removed from its place?

“The(D) light of the wicked indeed goes out,
And the flame of his fire does not shine.
The light is dark in his tent,
(E)And his lamp beside him is put out.
The steps of his strength are shortened,
And (F)his own counsel casts him down.
For (G)he is cast into a net by his own feet,
And he walks into a snare.
The net takes him by the heel,
And (H)a snare lays hold of him.
10 A noose is hidden for him on the ground,
And a trap for him in the road.
11 (I)Terrors frighten him on every side,
And drive him to his feet.
12 His strength is starved,
And (J)destruction is ready at his side.
13 It devours patches of his skin;
The firstborn of death devours his [b]limbs.
14 He is uprooted from (K)the shelter of his tent,
And they parade him before the king of terrors.
15 They dwell in his tent who are none of his;
Brimstone is scattered on his dwelling.
16 (L)His roots are dried out below,
And his branch withers above.
17 (M)The memory of him perishes from the earth,
And he has no name [c]among the renowned.
18 [d]He is driven from light into darkness,
And chased out of the world.
19 (N)He has neither son nor posterity among his people,
Nor any remaining in his dwellings.
20 Those [e]in the west are astonished (O)at his day,
As those [f]in the east are frightened.
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked,
And this is the place of him who (P)does not know God.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 18:4 Lit. one who tears his soul
  2. Job 18:13 parts
  3. Job 18:17 Lit. before the outside, i.e., the distinguished or famous
  4. Job 18:18 Or They drive him
  5. Job 18:20 Lit. who came after
  6. Job 18:20 Lit. who have gone before