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Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked

18 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:

“How long will it be until you put an end to words?
    Gain understanding, and afterwards we will speak.
Why are we counted as beasts
    and regarded as stupid in your sight?
You who tear yourself in anger,
    will the earth be forsaken for you?
    And will the rock be removed from its place?

“Yes, the light of the wicked will be put out,
    and the spark of his fire will not shine.
The light will be dark in his tent,
    and his candle beside him will be put out.
The steps of his strength will be shortened,
    and his own counsel will cast him down.
For he is cast into a net by his own feet,
    and he walks upon a snare.
The trap will take him by the heel,
    and the snare will prevail against him.
10 The snare is laid for him in the ground,
    and a trap for him in the path.
11 Terrors will make him afraid on every side
    and will drive him to his feet.
12 His strength will be hungry,
    and destruction will be ready at his side.
13 It will devour the parts of his skin;
    the firstborn of death will devour his limbs.
14 His confidence will be rooted out of his tent,
    and it will bring him to the king of terrors.
15 They dwell in his tent who have no part with him;
    brimstone will be scattered upon his habitation.
16 His roots will be dried up beneath,
    and above his branch will dry up.
17 The memory of him will perish from the earth,
    and he will have no name in the street.
18 He will be driven from light into darkness,
    and chased out of the world.
19 He has neither descendant nor posterity among his people,
    nor anyone remaining in his dwellings.
20 They who come after him will be astonished at his day,
    as they who went before were seized with fright.
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked,
    and this is the place of him who does not know 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