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Bildad’s Second Speech[a]

Chapter 18

The Light of the Wicked Is Extinguished.

Then Bildad the Shuhite responded:

“When will you cease this torrent of words?
    Once you start to think rationally,
    then we can have a sensible discussion.
Why do you treat us like animals
    and regard us as ignorant?
In your anger you tear yourself to pieces,
    but the earth will not be forsaken on your account,
    nor will a single rock be moved from its place.
“The light of the wicked is extinguished,
    and the flame of his fire no longer shines.
The light in his tent begins to fade
    and the lamp above him is put out.
His vigorous stride begins to falter
    and his own plans fail miserably.
He rushes headlong into a net,
    and his feet are ensnared.
“A trap seizes him by the heel,
    leaving him unable to escape.
10 A noose lies hidden on the ground for him;
    pitfalls lie across his path.
11 Terrors alarm him on every side,
    hounding his every step.
12 His strength is weakened by hunger,
    and disaster awaits him on all sides.
13 “His skin is eaten away by disease;
    the firstborn of death devours his limbs.[b]
14 He is dragged from the security of his tent
    and carted off to the king of terrors.[c]
15 Anyone can live in his tent since it is no longer his;
    brimstone[d] is scattered over his dwelling.
16 His roots dry up below,
    and his branches wither above.
17 “All memory of him vanishes from the earth;
    his name is quickly forgotten.
18 He is thrust from light into darkness
    and banished from the world.
19 He leaves no offspring or posterity among his people;
    there is no survivor where he once lived.
20 Inhabitants of the west are appalled at his fate,
    while those of the east are struck with horror.
21 Such indeed is the dwelling of the impious;
    such is the home of everyone who cares nothing for God.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 18:1 The wrath of Job has the result of provoking Bildad to impatience. In the divine order of the universe, he says, there is no place for the problem of Job, whose words constitute a blasphemy.
  2. Job 18:13 The ancients regarded illnesses as the children of death; the allusion here, then, is to very serious illness.
  3. Job 18:14 King of terrors: i.e., death. In various civilizations the ruler of the realm of the dead was called Nergal, Pluto, or Moloch (see Isa 57:9).
  4. Job 18:15 Brimstone: an element used to disinfect a tent and remove every trace of the occupant.

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