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Bildad Speaks Again

18 Bildad from Shuah replied, saying:

“When are you going to stop your word hunt?
    Think first, and then we can talk.
Why do you think we’re like dumb animals?
    Do you think we’re stupid?
You’re tearing yourself to pieces in your anger.
    Will the land be abandoned because of you,
        or the rock be moved from its place?”

The Wicked are Trapped

“Indeed, the light of the wicked is extinguished;
    the flame from his fire doesn’t shine.
Light in his tent is dark,
    and his lamp goes out above him.
His strong steps are restricted,
    and his own advice trips him up.

“For he has stumbled into a net with his own feet;
    he walked right into the network!
The trap seizes him by the heel;
    a snare tightens its hold on him.
10 A rope lies hidden in the dirt;
    a trap lies[a] waiting for him where he is walking.”

The Wicked Perish without Descendants

11 “He is petrified by terror that surrounds him on all sides;
    they chase at his heels.
12 He is starved for strength;
    and is ripe for a fall.
13 Something gnaws on his skin;
    a deadly disease[b] consumes his limbs.
14 Torn from the security of his home,[c]
    he is brought before the king of terrors.

15 “There’s nothing in his tent that belongs to him;
    sulfur is scattered all over his dwelling place.
16 His roots wither underneath,
    while his branches above are being cut off.
17 No one remembers him anywhere in the land;
    no one names streets in his honor.
18 He is driven away from light to darkness,
    made to wander the landscape.
19 He has no children or descendants within his own people;
    and no survivors where he once lived.
20 People[d] who live west of him are appalled at his fate;[e]
    those who live east of him are seized with terror.
21 Indeed, the residences of the wicked are like this;
    and so are the homes of those who don’t know God.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 18:10 The Heb. lacks lies
  2. Job 18:13 Lit. a firstborn of death
  3. Job 18:14 Lit. tent
  4. Job 18:20 The Heb. lacks people
  5. Job 18:20 Lit. at his day

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