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Bildad Answers Job

18 Then Bildad from Shuah answered:

“When will you stop talking?
    Be sensible; let us say something.
Why do you think we are stupid,
    like dumb cows?
Your anger is hurting no one but you.
    Do you think this world was made for you alone?
    Do you think God should move mountains just to satisfy you?

“Yes, the light of those who are evil will go out.
    Their fire will stop burning.
The light in their houses will become dark.
    The lamps next to them will go out.
Their steps, once strong and fast, become weak.
    Their own evil plans make them fall.
Their own feet lead them into a net.
    They fall into its hidden pit and are caught.
A trap catches them by the heel,
    and it holds them tight.
10 A rope is hidden on the ground to trip them.
    A trap is waiting in their path.
11 On every side terrors frighten them.
    Fears follow every step they take.
12 Disaster is hungry for them.
    Ruin stands close by, waiting for them to fall.
13 Diseases will eat away their skin.
    Death itself[a] will eat their arms and legs.
14 They will be taken away from the safety of their tents
    and be led away to meet death, the king of terrors.
15 Nothing will be left in their tents,
    which will be sprinkled with burning sulfur.
16 Their roots below will dry up,
    and their branches above will die.
17 People on earth will not remember them.
    Their names will be forgotten.
18 They will be forced from light into darkness.
    They will be chased out of this world.
19 They will leave behind no children, no descendants.
    None of their people will be left alive.
20 People in the west will be shocked at what happened to them.
    People in the east will be numb with fear.
21 This is what will happen to the homes of those who are evil.
    This is the place of those who don’t know God!”

Footnotes

  1. Job 18:13 Death itself Literally, “Death’s firstborn,” a name for a deadly disease, or the worms that eat a dead body.

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.