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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

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.