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Bildad’s Second Speech[a]

Chapter 18

The Light of the Wicked Is Extinguished.

Then Bildad the Shuhite responded:

“When will you cease this torrent of words?
    Once you start to think rationally,
    then we can have a sensible discussion.
Why do you treat us like animals
    and regard us as ignorant?
In your anger you tear yourself to pieces,
    but the earth will not be forsaken on your account,
    nor will a single rock be moved from its place.
“The light of the wicked is extinguished,
    and the flame of his fire no longer shines.
The light in his tent begins to fade
    and the lamp above him is put out.
His vigorous stride begins to falter
    and his own plans fail miserably.
He rushes headlong into a net,
    and his feet are ensnared.
“A trap seizes him by the heel,
    leaving him unable to escape.
10 A noose lies hidden on the ground for him;
    pitfalls lie across his path.
11 Terrors alarm him on every side,
    hounding his every step.
12 His strength is weakened by hunger,
    and disaster awaits him on all sides.
13 “His skin is eaten away by disease;
    the firstborn of death devours his limbs.[b]
14 He is dragged from the security of his tent
    and carted off to the king of terrors.[c]
15 Anyone can live in his tent since it is no longer his;
    brimstone[d] is scattered over his dwelling.
16 His roots dry up below,
    and his branches wither above.
17 “All memory of him vanishes from the earth;
    his name is quickly forgotten.
18 He is thrust from light into darkness
    and banished from the world.
19 He leaves no offspring or posterity among his people;
    there is no survivor where he once lived.
20 Inhabitants of the west are appalled at his fate,
    while those of the east are struck with horror.
21 Such indeed is the dwelling of the impious;
    such is the home of everyone who cares nothing for God.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 18:1 The wrath of Job has the result of provoking Bildad to impatience. In the divine order of the universe, he says, there is no place for the problem of Job, whose words constitute a blasphemy.
  2. Job 18:13 The ancients regarded illnesses as the children of death; the allusion here, then, is to very serious illness.
  3. Job 18:14 King of terrors: i.e., death. In various civilizations the ruler of the realm of the dead was called Nergal, Pluto, or Moloch (see Isa 57:9).
  4. Job 18:15 Brimstone: an element used to disinfect a tent and remove every trace of the occupant.

18 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.

Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?

He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?

Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.

The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.

The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.

For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.

The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.

10 The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.

11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.

12 His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side.

13 It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength.

14 His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.

15 It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.

16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.

17 His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.

18 He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.

19 He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.

20 They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted.

21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.

'Job 18 ' not found for the version: Worldwide English (New Testament).

Bildad: The Wicked Are Punished

18 Then (A)Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

“How long till you put an end to words?
Gain understanding, and afterward we will speak.
Why are we counted (B)as beasts,
And regarded as stupid in your sight?
(C)You[a] who tear yourself in anger,
Shall the earth be forsaken for you?
Or shall the rock be removed from its place?

“The(D) light of the wicked indeed goes out,
And the flame of his fire does not shine.
The light is dark in his tent,
(E)And his lamp beside him is put out.
The steps of his strength are shortened,
And (F)his own counsel casts him down.
For (G)he is cast into a net by his own feet,
And he walks into a snare.
The net takes him by the heel,
And (H)a snare lays hold of him.
10 A noose is hidden for him on the ground,
And a trap for him in the road.
11 (I)Terrors frighten him on every side,
And drive him to his feet.
12 His strength is starved,
And (J)destruction is ready at his side.
13 It devours patches of his skin;
The firstborn of death devours his [b]limbs.
14 He is uprooted from (K)the shelter of his tent,
And they parade him before the king of terrors.
15 They dwell in his tent who are none of his;
Brimstone is scattered on his dwelling.
16 (L)His roots are dried out below,
And his branch withers above.
17 (M)The memory of him perishes from the earth,
And he has no name [c]among the renowned.
18 [d]He is driven from light into darkness,
And chased out of the world.
19 (N)He has neither son nor posterity among his people,
Nor any remaining in his dwellings.
20 Those [e]in the west are astonished (O)at his day,
As those [f]in the east are frightened.
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked,
And this is the place of him who (P)does not know God.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 18:4 Lit. one who tears his soul
  2. Job 18:13 parts
  3. Job 18:17 Lit. before the outside, i.e., the distinguished or famous
  4. Job 18:18 Or They drive him
  5. Job 18:20 Lit. who came after
  6. Job 18:20 Lit. who have gone before

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