Bildad Speaks of the Wicked

18 Then Bildad the Shuhite responded,

“How long will you hunt for words?
Show understanding, and then we can talk.
Why are we (A)regarded as animals,
As stupid in your eyes?
[a]You who tear yourself in your anger—
Should the earth be abandoned for your sake,
Or the rock moved from its place?

“Indeed, the (B)light of the wicked goes out,
And the spark from his fire does not shine.
The light in his tent is (C)darkened,
And his lamp goes out above him.
His [b]vigorous stride is shortened,
And his (D)own plan brings him down.
For he is (E)thrown into the net by his own feet,
And he steps on the webbing.
A snare seizes him by the heel,
And a trap snaps shut on him.
10 A noose for him is hidden in the ground,
And a trap for him on the pathway.
11 All around (F)sudden terrors frighten him,
And (G)harass him at every step.
12 His strength is (H)famished,
And disaster is ready at his side.
13 [c]It devours parts of his skin,
The firstborn of death (I)devours his [d]limbs.
14 He is (J)torn from [e]the security of his tent,
And [f]they march him before the king of (K)terrors.
15 [g]Nothing of his dwells in his tent;
(L)Brimstone is scattered on his home.
16 His (M)roots are dried below,
And his (N)branch withers above.
17 (O)The memory of him perishes from the earth,
And he has no name abroad.
18 [h]He is driven from light (P)into darkness,
And (Q)chased from the inhabited world.
19 He has no (R)offspring or descendants among his people,
Nor any survivor where he resided.
20 Those in the west are appalled at (S)his [i]fate,
And those in the east are seized with horror.
21 Certainly these are the (T)dwellings of the wicked,
And this is the place of him who does not know God.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 18:4 Lit The one who tears himself in his
  2. Job 18:7 Lit steps of his strength
  3. Job 18:13 Another reading is His skin is devoured by illness
  4. Job 18:13 Or parts
  5. Job 18:14 Lit his tent his trust
  6. Job 18:14 Lit you march or she marches
  7. Job 18:15 Another reading is Fire dwells in his tent
  8. Job 18:18 Lit They drive him...And chase him
  9. Job 18:20 Lit day

Attack from a friend

18 Bildad from Shuah answered:

How long? Would you all stop talking.
    Try to understand and then we can speak.
Why are we considered beasts,
    ignorant in your sight?
To you who tear yourself in rage—
    will earth be forsaken for your sake,
    a rock be dislodged from its place?

Evil people’s fate

To be sure, the light of the wicked goes out;
    the blaze of their fire doesn’t shine.
The light in their tent becomes dark,
    and their lamp above doesn’t shine.
Their strong strides slow down;
    their plans trip themselves.
They are caught by their feet in a net;
    they walk on mesh.
A trap grabs them by the heel;
    a snare tightens on them.
10 A rope is hidden on the ground for them;
    a trap for them along the path.
11 Terrors round about scare them;
    they follow their steps.
12 Their offspring hunger;
    calamity is ready for their spouses.
13 It eats some of their skin.
    Death’s firstborn consumes their limbs.
14 They are snatched from the safety of their tent;
    it parades them before the king of terrors.
15 Nothing they own remains in their tent;
    sulfur is scattered over their home.
16 Their roots dry out below;
    their branches wither above.
17 The memory of them will perish from the earth;
    they will achieve no recognition abroad.
18 They are thrust from light into darkness,
    banished from the world.
19 They have no offspring or descendants among their people,
    no survivor in their dwelling place.
20 Their successors are appalled at what happens to them;
    their predecessors pull their hair.
21 These are surely the dwelling places of the evil;
    this is the place of the one who doesn’t know God.