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Job 18-19
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Job 18-19
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked
18 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:
2 “How long will you hunt for words?
Consider, and then we shall speak.
3 Why are we counted as cattle?
Why are we stupid in your sight?(A)
4 You who tear yourself in your anger—
shall the earth be forsaken because of you
or the rock be removed out of its place?(B)
5 “Surely the light of the wicked is put out,
and the flame of their fire does not shine.(C)
6 The light is dark in their tent,
and the lamp above them is put out.
7 Their strong steps are shortened,
and their own schemes throw them down.(D)
8 For they are thrust into a net by their own feet,
and they walk into a pitfall.(E)
9 A trap seizes them by the heel;
a snare lays hold of them.(F)
10 A rope is hid for them in the ground,
a trap for them in the path.(G)
11 Terrors frighten them on every side
and chase them at their heels.(H)
12 Their strength is consumed by hunger,[a]
and calamity is ready for their stumbling.(I)
13 By disease their skin is consumed;[b]
the firstborn of Death consumes their limbs.
14 They are torn from the tent in which they trusted
and are brought to the king of terrors.(J)
15 In their tents nothing remains;
sulfur is scattered upon their habitations.(K)
16 Their roots dry up beneath,
and their branches wither above.(L)
17 Their memory perishes from the earth,
and they have no name in the street.(M)
18 They are thrust from light into darkness
and driven out of the world.
19 They have no offspring or descendant among their people
and no survivor where they used to live.(N)
20 They of the west are appalled at their fate,
and horror seizes those of the east.
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the ungodly;
such is the place of those who do not know God.”(O)
Job Replies: I Know That My Vindicator Lives
19 Then Job answered:
2 “How long will you torment me
and break me in pieces with words?
3 These ten times you have cast reproach upon me;
are you not ashamed to wrong me?
4 And even if it is true that I have erred,
my error remains with me.(P)
5 If indeed you magnify yourselves against me
and make my humiliation an argument against me,(Q)
6 know then that God has put me in the wrong
and closed his net around me.(R)
7 Even when I cry out, ‘Violence!’ I am not answered;
I call aloud, but there is no justice.(S)
8 He has walled up my way so that I cannot pass,
and he has set darkness upon my paths.(T)
9 He has stripped my glory from me
and taken the crown from my head.(U)
10 He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone;
he has uprooted my hope like a tree.(V)
11 He has kindled his wrath against me
and counts me as his adversary.(W)
12 His troops come on together;
they have thrown up siegeworks[c] against me
and encamp around my tent.(X)
13 “He has put my family far from me,
and my acquaintances are wholly estranged from me.
14 My relatives and my close friends have failed me;
15 the guests in my house have forgotten me;
my female servants count me as a stranger;
I have become an alien in their eyes.(Y)
16 I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer;
I must myself plead with him.
17 My breath is repulsive to my wife;
I am loathsome to my own family.
18 Even young children despise me;
when I rise, they talk against me.(Z)
19 All my intimate friends abhor me,
and those whom I love have turned against me.(AA)
20 My bones cling to my skin and to my flesh,
and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.(AB)
21 Have pity on me, have pity on me, O you my friends,
for the hand of God has touched me!(AC)
22 Why do you, like God, pursue me,
never satisfied with my flesh?(AD)
23 “O that my words were written down!
O that they were inscribed in a book!(AE)
24 O that with an iron pen and with lead
they were engraved on a rock forever!(AF)
25 For I know that my vindicator[d] lives
and that in the end he will stand upon the earth;(AG)
26 and after my skin has been destroyed,
then in my flesh I shall see God,(AH)
27 whom I shall see on my side,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!(AI)
28 If you say, ‘How we will persecute him!’
and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him,’(AJ)
29 be afraid of the sword,
for wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
so that you may know there is a judgment.”(AK)
Job 18-19
New International Version
Job 18-19
New International Version
Bildad
18 Then Bildad the Shuhite(A) replied:
2 “When will you end these speeches?(B)
Be sensible, and then we can talk.
3 Why are we regarded as cattle(C)
and considered stupid in your sight?(D)
4 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)
5 “The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out;(H)
the flame of his fire stops burning.(I)
6 The light in his tent(J) becomes dark;(K)
the lamp beside him goes out.(L)
7 The vigor(M) of his step is weakened;(N)
his own schemes(O) throw him down.(P)
8 His feet thrust him into a net;(Q)
he wanders into its mesh.
9 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)
Job
19 Then Job replied:
2 “How long will you torment(BC) me
and crush(BD) me with words?
3 Ten times(BE) now you have reproached(BF) me;
shamelessly you attack me.
4 If it is true that I have gone astray,
my error(BG) remains my concern alone.
5 If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me(BH)
and use my humiliation against me,
6 then know that God has wronged me(BI)
and drawn his net(BJ) around me.(BK)
7 “Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response;(BL)
though I call for help,(BM) there is no justice.(BN)
8 He has blocked my way so I cannot pass;(BO)
he has shrouded my paths in darkness.(BP)
9 He has stripped(BQ) me of my honor(BR)
and removed the crown from my head.(BS)
10 He tears me down(BT) on every side till I am gone;
he uproots my hope(BU) like a tree.(BV)
11 His anger(BW) burns against me;
he counts me among his enemies.(BX)
12 His troops advance in force;(BY)
they build a siege ramp(BZ) against me
and encamp around my tent.(CA)
13 “He has alienated my family(CB) from me;
my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.(CC)
14 My relatives have gone away;
my closest friends(CD) have forgotten me.
15 My guests(CE) and my female servants(CF) count me a foreigner;
they look on me as on a stranger.
16 I summon my servant, but he does not answer,
though I beg him with my own mouth.
17 My breath is offensive to my wife;
I am loathsome(CG) to my own family.
18 Even the little boys(CH) scorn me;
when I appear, they ridicule me.(CI)
19 All my intimate friends(CJ) detest me;(CK)
those I love have turned against me.(CL)
20 I am nothing but skin and bones;(CM)
I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.[b]
21 “Have pity on me, my friends,(CN) have pity,
for the hand of God has struck(CO) me.
22 Why do you pursue(CP) me as God does?(CQ)
Will you never get enough of my flesh?(CR)
23 “Oh, that my words were recorded,
that they were written on a scroll,(CS)
24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool(CT) on[c] lead,
or engraved in rock forever!(CU)
25 I know that my redeemer[d](CV) lives,(CW)
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.[e]
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet[f] in[g] my flesh I will see God;(CX)
27 I myself will see him
with my own eyes(CY)—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns(CZ) within me!
Footnotes
- Job 18:15 Or Nothing he had remains
- Job 19:20 Or only by my gums
- Job 19:24 Or and
- Job 19:25 Or vindicator
- Job 19:25 Or on my grave
- Job 19:26 Or And after I awake, / though this body has been destroyed, / then
- Job 19:26 Or destroyed, / apart from
- Job 19:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts me
- Job 19:29 Or sword, / that you may come to know the Almighty
Job 18-19
King James Version
Job 18-19
King James Version
18 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.
3 Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?
4 He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?
5 Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.
6 The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.
7 The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.
8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.
9 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.
19 Then Job answered and said,
2 How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
3 These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.
4 And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.
5 If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:
6 Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.
7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.
8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.
9 He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.
10 He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.
11 He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.
12 His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.
13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.
14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.
15 They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.
16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.
17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body.
18 Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.
19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.
20 My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.
21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.
22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
28 But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?
29 Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.