Job 18
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
Then Bildad the Shuhite made answer and said,
2 “How long until you end these speeches? Show some sense, and then we can talk.
How long will it be before you have done talking? Get wisdom, and then we will say what is in our minds.
3 Why are we regarded as cattle, as stupid in your sight?
Why do we seem as beasts in your eyes, and as completely without knowledge?
4 You who tear yourself in anger— should the earth be forsaken on your account, or the rocks be moved from their place?
But come back, now, come: you who are wounding yourself in your passion, will the earth be given up because of you, or a rock be moved out of its place?
5 Indeed, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished; the flame of his fire does not glow.
For the light of the sinner is put out, and the flame of his fire is not shining.
6 The light in his tent grows dark, and the lamp beside him goes out.
The light is dark in his tent, and the light shining over him is put out.
7 His vigorous stride is shortened, and his own schemes trip him up.
The steps of his strength become short, and by his design destruction overtakes him.
8 For his own feet lead him into a net, and he wanders into its mesh.
His feet take him into the net, and he goes walking into the cords.
9 A trap seizes his heel; a snare grips him.
His foot is taken in the net; he comes into its grip.
10 A noose is hidden in the ground, and a trap lies in his path.
The twisted cord is put secretly in the earth to take him, and the cord is placed in his way.
11 Terrors frighten him on every side and harass his every step.
He is overcome by fears on every side, they go after him at every step.
12 His strength is depleted, and calamity is ready at his side.
His strength is made feeble for need of food, and destruction is waiting for his falling footstep.
13 It devours patches of his skin; the firstborn of death devours his limbs.
His skin is wasted by disease, and his body is food for the worst of diseases.
14 He is torn from the shelter of his tent and is marched off to the king of terrors.
He is pulled out of his tent where he was safe, and he is taken away to the king of fears.
15 Fire resides in his tent; burning sulfur rains down on his dwelling.
In his tent will be seen that which is not his, burning stone is dropped on his house.
16 The roots beneath him dry up, and the branches above him wither away.
Under the earth his roots are dry, and over it his branch is cut off.
17 The memory of him perishes from the earth, and he has no name in the land.
His memory is gone from the earth, and in the open country there is no knowledge of his name.
18 He is driven from light into darkness and is chased from the inhabited world.
He is sent away from the light into the dark; he is forced out of the world.
19 He has no offspring or posterity among his people, no survivor where he once lived.
He has no offspring or family among his people, and in his living-place there is no one of his name.
20 Those in the west are appalled at his fate, while those in the east tremble in horror.
At his fate those of the west are shocked, and those of the east are overcome with fear.
21 Surely such is the dwelling of the wicked and the place of one who does not know God.”
Truly, these are the houses of the sinner, and this is the place of him who has no knowledge of God.
