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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 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 of the Wicked

18 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,


“How long will you hunt for words and continue these speeches?
Do some clear thinking and show understanding and then we can talk.

“Why are we regarded as beasts,
As if [we are] stupid (senseless) in your eyes?

“You who tear yourself apart in anger,
Is the earth to be abandoned for your sake,
Or the rock to be moved out of its place?


“Indeed, the light of the wicked will be put out,
And the flame of his fire will not shine.(A)

“The light will be dark in his tent,
And his lamp beside him will be put out.(B)

“The vigorous stride will be shortened,
And his own counsel and the scheme [in which he trusted] will bring his downfall.

“For the wicked is thrown into a net by his own feet (wickedness),
And he steps on the webbing [of the lattice-covered pit].

“A snare catches him by the heel,
And a trap snaps shut on him.
10 
“A noose is hidden for him on the ground,
And a trap for him on the path.
11 
“Terrors frighten him on every side
And chase at his heels.
12 
“The strength [of the wicked] is famished and weakened,
And disaster is ready at his side [if he stops].
13 
“His skin is devoured by disease;
The firstborn of death [the worst of diseases] consumes his limbs.
14 
“He is torn from his tent which he trusted [for safety],
And he is marched and brought to the king of terrors (death).
15 
“Nothing of his dwells in his tent;
Brimstone (burning sulfur) is scattered over his dwelling [to purify it].
16 
“The roots [of the wicked] are dried up below,
And above, his branch is cut off and withers.
17 
“Memory of him perishes from the earth,
And he has no name on the street.
18 
“He is driven and propelled from light into darkness,
And chased from the inhabited world.
19 
“He has no offspring or prosperity among his people,
Nor any survivor where he sojourned.
20 
“Those in the west are astonished and appalled at his fate,
And those in the east are seized with horror.
21 
“Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked and the ungodly,
And such is the place of him who does not know or recognize or honor God.”

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

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.