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

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