Job 18
1 Then Baldad the Suhite answered, and said:
Then Bildad the Shuhite spoke up and said,
2 How long will you throw out words? understand first, and so let us speak.
“How long will you go on talking, hunting for the right words to say? Talk sense if you want us to reply!
3 Why are we reputed as beasts, and counted vile before you?
Do you think we're dumb animals? Do we look stupid to you?
4 Thou that destroyest thy soul in thy fury, shall the earth be forsaken for thee, and shall rocks be removed out of their 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 Shall not the light of the wicked be extinguished, and the flame of his fire not shine?
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 shall be dark in his tabernacle, and the lamp that is over him, shall be put out.
The light in their home goes out, the lamp hanging above is extinguished.
7 The step of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down headlong.
Instead of taking strong strides they stumble, and their own plans cause them to fall.
8 For he hath thrust his feet into a net, and walketh in its meshes.
Their own feet trip them up and they are caught in a net; as they walk along they fall into a pit.
9 The sole of his foot shall be held in a snare, and thirst shall burn against him.
A trap grabs them by the heel; a snare tightens around them.
10 A gin is hidden for him in the earth, and his trap upon the path.
A noose is hidden on the ground for them; a rope is stretched across the path to trip them.
11 Fears shall terrify him on every side, and shall entangle his feet.
Terrors scare the wicked, coming at them from every side, chasing them, biting at their heels.
12 Let his strength be wasted with famine, and let hunger invade his ribs.
Hunger robs them of strength; disaster waits for them when they fall.
13 Let it devour the beauty of his skin, let the firstborn death consume his arms.
Disease devours their skin; deadly disease consumes their limbs.
14 Let his confidence be rooted out of his tabernacle, and let destruction tread upon him like a king.
They are torn from the homes they trusted in and taken to the king of terrors.
15 Let the companions of him that is not, dwell in his tabernacle, let brimstone be sprinkled in his tent.
People they don't know will live in their homes; sulfur will be scattered where they used to live.
16 Let his roots be dried up beneath, and his harvest destroyed above.
They wither away, roots below and branches above;
17 Let the memory of him perish from the earth and let not his name be renowned in the streets.
the memory of them fades from the earth; nobody remembers their names any more.
18 He shall drive him out of light into darkness, and shall remove him out of the world.
They are thrown out of light into darkness, driven from the world.
19 His seed shall not subsist, nor his offspring among his people, nor any remnants in his country.
They have no children or descendants among their people, and no survivors where they used to live.
20 They that come after him shall be astonished at his day, and horror shall fall upon them that went before.
People of the west are appalled at what happens to them. People of the east are shocked.
21 These men are the tabernacles of the wicked, and this the place of him that knoweth not God.
This is what happens to the homes of the wicked, to the places of those who reject God.”
