Job 18

Bildad: The Wicked are Punished

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:2 How long till you put an end to words? Gain understanding, and afterward we will speak.3 Why are we counted as beasts, And regarded as stupid in your sight?4 You who tear yourself in anger, Shall the earth be forsaken for you? Or shall the rock be removed from its place?5 The light of the wicked indeed goes out, And the flame of his fire does not shine.6 The light is dark in his tent, And his lamp beside him is put out.7 The steps of his strength are shortened, And his own counsel casts him down.8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, And he walks into a snare.9 The net takes him by the heel, And a snare lays hold of him.10 A noose is hidden for him on the ground, And a trap for him in the road.11 Terrors frighten him on every side, And drive him to his feet.12 His strength is starved, And destruction is ready at his side.13 It devours patches of his skin; The firstborn of death devours his limbs.14 He is uprooted from the shelter of his tent, And they parade him before the king of terrors.15 They dwell in his tent who are none of his; Brimstone is scattered on his dwelling.16 His roots are dried out below, And his branch withers above.17 The memory of him perishes from the earth, And he has no name among the renowned.18 He is driven from light into darkness, And chased out of the world.19 He has neither son nor posterity among his people, Nor any remaining in his dwellings.20 Those in the west are astonished at his day, As those in the east are frightened.21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, And this is the place of him who does not know God.

JOB 18

Bildad's Second Speech

How Long Will You Talk?

1 Bildad from Shuaht said:

2 How long will you talk?
Be sensible! Let us speak.

3 Or do you think that we
are dumb animals?

4 You cut yourself in anger.
Will that shake the earth
or even move the rocks?
*

5 t The lamps of sinful people
soon are snuffed out,

6 leaving their tents dark.

7 Their powerful legs become weak,
and they stumble on schemes
of their own doing.
*

8 Before they know it,

9 they are trapped in a net,

10 hidden along the path.

11 Terror strikes and pursues
from every side.

12 Starving, they run,
only to meet disaster,

13 then afterwards to be eaten alive
by death itself.

14 Those sinners are dragged
from the safety of their tents
to die a gruesome death.

15 Then their tents and possessions
are burned to ashes,

16 and they are left like trees,
dried up from the roots.

17 They are gone and forgotten,

18 thrown far from the light
into a world of darkness,

19 without any children
to carry on their name.

20 Everyone, from east to west,
is overwhelmed with horror.

21 Such is the fate of sinners
and their families
who don't know God.