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’s Second Response to Job

18 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

“How long before you stop talking?
    Speak sense if you want us to answer!
Do you think we are mere animals?
    Do you think we are stupid?
You may tear out your hair in anger,
    but will that destroy the earth?
    Will it make the rocks tremble?

“Surely the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.
    The sparks of their fire will not glow.
The light in their tent will grow dark.
    The lamp hanging above them will be quenched.
The confident stride of the wicked will be shortened.
    Their own schemes will be their downfall.
The wicked walk into a net.
    They fall into a pit.
A trap grabs them by the heel.
    A snare holds them tight.
10 A noose lies hidden on the ground.
    A rope is stretched across their path.

11 “Terrors surround the wicked
    and trouble them at every step.
12 Hunger depletes their strength,
    and calamity waits for them to stumble.
13 Disease eats their skin;
    death devours their limbs.
14 They are torn from the security of their homes
    and are brought down to the king of terrors.
15 The homes of the wicked will burn down;
    burning sulfur rains on their houses.
16 Their roots will dry up,
    and their branches will wither.
17 All memory of their existence will fade from the earth;
    no one will remember their names.
18 They will be thrust from light into darkness,
    driven from the world.
19 They will have neither children nor grandchildren,
    nor any survivor in the place where they lived.
20 People in the west are appalled at their fate;
    people in the east are horrified.
21 They will say, ‘This was the home of a wicked person,
    the place of one who rejected God.’”