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Bildad speaks to Job again[a]

18 Then Bildad, the man from Shuah, replied. This is what he said:

‘You should not continue to talk like that!
    Stop and think carefully. Then we can talk.
You should not think that we are as foolish as cows.
You are so angry that you are hurting yourself.
You will never change the way that things happen in the world.
Your anger will not cause the earth to shake,
    or any rocks to move from their places.

What happens to wicked people

The light of a wicked person's life will stop shining.
    His fire will no longer burn brightly.
His tent will be dark.
    The lamp that gives him light will stop burning.
Once he was strong
    but now his legs are weak.
    His own ideas cause him to fall down.
He does not know where he is going
    and he walks into a dangerous trap.
A trap catches his foot
    and he cannot move.
10 Someone has hidden a rope on the ground.
    It catches him as he walks along.
11 Everywhere a wicked person goes,
    things frighten him.
    He cannot escape from them.
12 Now he is hungry
    and his strength has disappeared.
Terrible trouble is ready to take hold of him
    whenever it has the chance.
13 A bad disease eats his skin.
It causes his arms and his legs to become useless
    and he dies.
14 Then he has to leave his tent
    where he had lived safely.
He will have to meet the terrible king of death.
15 Other people will live in his tent.
    They have used sulphur to burn all his things.[b]
16 He is like a tree whose roots have become dry,
    and its branches have fallen off.
17 Nobody remembers that he ever lived.
    They have forgotten his name.
18 The wicked person has had to leave this world.
He has gone from a place where there is light
    to a place where it is dark.
19 He has no children or grandchildren.
    He has no family to live in his home.
20 All people are very upset
    when they see what has happened to him.
Wherever they live,
    they are very upset.

21 I know that this is what happens to the homes of evil people.
It happens to people who turn away from God.’

Footnotes

  1. 18:1 Now Bildad tells Job how God punishes bad people. He tells Job to listen to people who can help him. He says that Job must become wise. Then he will understand what has happened to him.
  2. 18:15 They used sulphur to make a place clean.

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)

Footnotes

  1. Job 18:15 Or Nothing he had remains