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Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked

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

“How long will you (B)hunt for words?
    Consider, and then we will speak.
Why are we counted as (C)cattle?
    Why are we stupid in your sight?
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?
“Indeed, (F)the light of the wicked is put out,
    and the flame of his fire does not shine.
The light is (G)dark in his tent,
    and his lamp above him is put out.
His strong steps are shortened,
    and his (H)own schemes throw him down.
For he is cast into a net by his own feet,
    and he walks on its mesh.
(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)sulphur 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.”

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.