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Job 18
The Voice
Job 18
The Voice
18 Bildad the Shuhite encouraged Job to righteousness.
2 Bildad: How long will you keep up the hunt for words?
Show some sense, and then we can actually converse.
3 Why is it we are like cattle to you,
dumb animals in your eyes?
4 You speak of how God “tears at you,” you!
You tear at yourself in your rage.
Oh, how self-centered you are!
Ought the earth be emptied of its inhabitants for your sake?
Ought the rocks roll away for your convenience?
5 Remember, the flame of the wicked is extinguished.
His fire no longer lends light to anything.
6 His tent-lamp goes dark;
his bedside lamp flickers and dies.
7 His long strides falter, as his own plans take him down.
8 His then-weakened feet lead him to a net,
And wander into its waiting mesh.
9 A snare clamps around his heel;
he feels it dig into him.
10 This trap was set for him beforehand:
a snare is hidden on the ground;
a net is overhead along the path.
11 Terrors press in on every side
and badger his every step.
12 His deepest fears stalk him as he staggers, craving him,
and awaiting his imminent collapse.
13 Bit by bit, disease eats at his skin;
bit by bit, the firstborn of death gnashes at his limbs.
14 He is torn violently from the safety of his tent
and forced to march before the king of terrors.
Bildad sees the realm of death not just as a place of rest and waiting, but as a growing society ruled by a king. Sheol always has room for more citizens and always wants more. Like an infant, this place—this firstborn of death—has a voracious appetite for the wicked. And the infant’s father, the king of terrors, has many ways to provide for his child. His terrors are not nightmares or phobias or any other psychological device. Instead, he rules over disaster, disease, and famine—anything that brings death. Through his vibrant imagery, Bildad explains that death is the ultimate fate of the wicked; he implies that Job cannot be evil because the terrors he has faced have not yet killed him.
15 Bildad: Nothing of his remains in his tent,
and burning sulfur has been scattered on it so no one will dwell there again.
16 Death comes from both directions:
from below, his roots dry out;
from above, his branches wither.
17 On the earth, he disappears from memory;
on the outside, no one recalls his name.
18 He is pushed out of the light into darkness
and chased from the inhabited world altogether.
19 He has no children, no descendants among his people;
no one survives him or escapes from his homeland.
20 His fate is unanimously viewed:
with dismay in the West,
with horror in the East.
21 Surely this is the way it goes with all evil people;
surely this is the lot in life for those who do not know God.
Job 18
English Standard Version
Job 18
English Standard Version
Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked
18 Then (A)Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 “How long will you (B)hunt for words?
Consider, and then we will speak.
3 Why are we counted as (C)cattle?
Why are we stupid in your sight?
4 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?
5 “Indeed, (F)the light of the wicked is put out,
and the flame of his fire does not shine.
6 The light is (G)dark in his tent,
and his lamp above him is put out.
7 His strong steps are shortened,
and his (H)own schemes throw him down.
8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet,
and he walks on its mesh.
9 (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.”
Job 18
New International Version
Job 18
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)
Footnotes
- Job 18:15 Or Nothing he had remains
Job 18
New King James Version
Job 18
New King James Version
Bildad: The Wicked Are Punished
18 Then (A)Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 “How long till you put an end to words?
Gain understanding, and afterward we will speak.
3 Why are we counted (B)as beasts,
And regarded as stupid in your sight?
4 (C)You[a] who tear yourself in anger,
Shall the earth be forsaken for you?
Or shall the rock be removed from its place?
5 “The(D) light of the wicked indeed goes out,
And the flame of his fire does not shine.
6 The light is dark in his tent,
(E)And his lamp beside him is put out.
7 The steps of his strength are shortened,
And (F)his own counsel casts him down.
8 For (G)he is cast into a net by his own feet,
And he walks into a snare.
9 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.”
The Voice (VOICE)
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.