Job 18

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite made answer and said,

Then Bildad the Shuhite spoke up and said,

2 How long will it be before you have done talking? Get wisdom, and then we will say what is in our minds.

“How long will you go on talking, hunting for the right words to say? Talk sense if you want us to reply!

3 Why do we seem as beasts in your eyes, and as completely without knowledge?

Do you think we're dumb animals? Do we look stupid to you?

4 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?

You tear yourself apart with your anger. Do you think the earth has to be abandoned, or the mountains moved, just because of you?

5 For the light of the sinner is put out, and the flame of his fire is not shining.

It's certain that the life of the wicked will end like a lamp that is snuffed out—their flame will shine no more.

6 The light is dark in his tent, and the light shining over him is put out.

The light in their home goes out, the lamp hanging above is extinguished.

7 The steps of his strength become short, and by his design destruction overtakes him.

Instead of taking strong strides they stumble, and their own plans cause them to fall.

8 His feet take him into the net, and he goes walking into the cords.

Their own feet trip them up and they are caught in a net; as they walk along they fall into a pit.

9 His foot is taken in the net; he comes into its grip.

A trap grabs them by the heel; a snare tightens around them.

10 The twisted cord is put secretly in the earth to take him, and the cord is placed in his way.

A noose is hidden on the ground for them; a rope is stretched across the path to trip them.

11 He is overcome by fears on every side, they go after him at every step.

Terrors scare the wicked, coming at them from every side, chasing them, biting at their heels.

12 His strength is made feeble for need of food, and destruction is waiting for his falling footstep.

Hunger robs them of strength; disaster waits for them when they fall.

13 His skin is wasted by disease, and his body is food for the worst of diseases.

Disease devours their skin; deadly disease consumes their limbs.

14 He is pulled out of his tent where he was safe, and he is taken away to the king of fears.

They are torn from the homes they trusted in and taken to the king of terrors.

15 In his tent will be seen that which is not his, burning stone is dropped on his house.

People they don't know will live in their homes; sulfur will be scattered where they used to live.

16 Under the earth his roots are dry, and over it his branch is cut off.

They wither away, roots below and branches above;

17 His memory is gone from the earth, and in the open country there is no knowledge of his name.

the memory of them fades from the earth; nobody remembers their names any more.

18 He is sent away from the light into the dark; he is forced out of the world.

They are thrown out of light into darkness, driven from the world.

19 He has no offspring or family among his people, and in his living-place there is no one of his name.

They have no children or descendants among their people, and no survivors where they used to live.

20 At his fate those of the west are shocked, and those of the east are overcome with fear.

People of the west are appalled at what happens to them. People of the east are shocked.

21 Truly, these are the houses of the sinner, and this is the place of him who has no knowledge of God.

This is what happens to the homes of the wicked, to the places of those who reject God.”