Job 18
English Standard Version
Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked
18 Then (A)Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 “How long will you (B)hunt for words?
Consider, and then we will speak.
3 Why are we counted as (C)cattle?
Why are we stupid in your sight?
4 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?
5 “Indeed, (F)the light of the wicked is put out,
and the flame of his fire does not shine.
6 The light is (G)dark in his tent,
and his lamp above him is put out.
7 His strong steps are shortened,
and his (H)own schemes throw him down.
8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet,
and he walks on its mesh.
9 (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.”
Job 18
International Children’s Bible
Bildad Answers Job
18 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:
2 “When will you stop these speeches?
Be sensible, and then we can talk.
3 You think of us as only cattle.
You think we are stupid.
4 You tear yourself to pieces in your anger.
Does everyone have to leave the earth just for you?
Do the rocks have to be moved from their place for you?
5 “The lamp of the wicked person will be put out.
The flame in his lamp will stop burning.
6 The light in his tent will become dark.
The lamp by his side will go out.
7 His footsteps will become weak and lose their strength.
He will fall into his own evil trap.
8 His feet are caught in a net
when he walks into its web.
9 A trap will catch him by the heel.
And it will hold him tight.
10 A trap for him is hidden on the ground.
It lies in his path.
11 Terrible things startle him from every side.
They chase him at every step.
12 Hunger takes away his strength.
Disaster is at his side.
13 Disease eats away parts of his skin.
The signs of death begin to eat away at his arms and legs.
14 The evil person is torn from the safety of his tent.
He is dragged off to Death, the King of Terrors.
15 His tent is set on fire.
Burning sulfur is scattered over his home.
16 His roots dry up below ground,
and his branches above ground die.
17 People on earth will not remember him.
His name will be forgotten in the land.
18 He will be driven from the light into darkness.
He will be chased out of the world.
19 He has no children or descendants among his people.
No one will be left alive where he once lived.
20 People of the west are shocked at what has happened to him.
People of the east are very frightened.
21 This is surely what will happen to the home of an evil person.
This is the place of one who does not know God.”
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
