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Bildad Speaks: Why Do You Think You Are So Great, Job?

18 Then Bildad from Shuah replied to Job,

“How long before your words will end?
    Think it through, and then we’ll talk.
Why do you think of us as cattle?
    Why are we considered stupid in your eyes?
Why do you rip yourself apart in anger?
    Should the earth be abandoned for your sake
        or a boulder be dislodged?

What a Wicked Person Can Expect from Life

“Indeed, the light of the wicked is snuffed out.
    The flame of his fire stops glowing.
The light in his tent becomes dark,
    and the lamp above him is snuffed out.

“His healthy stride is shortened,
    and his own planning trips him up.
His own feet get him tangled in a net
    as he walks around on its webbing.
        A trap catches his heel.
            A snare holds him.
10 A rope is hidden on the ground for him.
    A trap is on his path to catch him.

11 “Terrors suddenly pounce on him from every side
    and chase him every step he takes.
12 Hunger undermines his strength.
    Disaster is waiting beside him.
13 His skin is eaten away by disease.
    Death’s firstborn son eats away at the limbs of his body.
14 He is dragged from the safety of his tent
    and marched off to the king of terrors.
15 Fire lives in his tent.
    Sulfur is scattered over his home.
16 His roots dry up under him.
    His branches wither over him.
17 All memory about him will vanish from the earth,
    and his reputation will not be known on the street corner.
18 He will be driven from the light into the dark
    and chased out of the world.
19 He will not have any children or descendants among his people
    or any survivor where he used to live.
20 People in the west are shocked by what happens to him.
    People in the east are seized with horror.
21 This is what happens to the homes of wicked people
    and to those who do not know El.”

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