< Job 18 >

1 And Bildad the Shuhite answers and says:
Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
2 “When do you set an end to words? Consider, and afterward we speak.
“How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and afterwards we will speak.
3 Why have we been reckoned as livestock? We have been defiled in your eyes!
Why are we counted as animals, which have become unclean in your sight?
4 He is tearing himself in his anger. Is earth forsaken for your sake? And is a rock removed from its place?
You who tear yourself in your anger, will the earth be forsaken for you? Or will the rock be removed out of its place?
5 Also, the light of the wicked is extinguished. And there does not shine a spark of his fire.
“Yes, the light of the wicked will be put out. The spark of his fire won’t shine.
6 The light has been dark in his tent, And his lamp over him is extinguished.
The light will be dark in his tent. His lamp above him will be put out.
7 The steps of his strength are restricted, And his own counsel casts him down.
The steps of his strength will be shortened. His own counsel will cast him down.
8 For he is sent into a net by his own feet, And he habitually walks on a snare.
For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he wanders into its mesh.
9 A trap seizes on the heel, The designing prevails over him.
A snare will take him by the heel. A trap will catch him.
10 His cord is hidden in the earth, And his trap on the path.
A noose is hidden for him in the ground, a trap for him on the path.
11 Terrors have terrified him all around, And they have scattered him—at his feet.
Terrors will make him afraid on every side, and will chase him at his heels.
12 His sorrow is hungry, And calamity is ready at his side.
His strength will be famished. Calamity will be ready at his side.
13 It consumes the parts of his skin, Death’s firstborn consumes his parts.
The members of his body will be devoured. The firstborn of death will devour his members.
14 His confidence is drawn from his tent, And it causes him to step to the king of terrors.
He will be rooted out of the security of his tent. He will be brought to the king of terrors.
15 It dwells in his tent—out of his provender, Sulfur is scattered over his habitation.
There will dwell in his tent that which is none of his. Sulphur will be scattered on his habitation.
16 From beneath his roots are dried up, And from above his crop is cut off.
His roots will be dried up beneath. His branch will be cut off above.
17 His memorial has perished from the land, And he has no name on the street.
His memory will perish from the earth. He will have no name in the street.
18 They thrust him from light to darkness, And cast him out from the habitable earth.
He will be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.
19 He has no continuator, Nor successor among his people, And none is remaining in his dwellings.
He will have neither son nor grandson amongst his people, nor any remaining where he lived.
20 At this day, those [in the] west have been astonished, And those [in the] east have taken fright.
Those who come after will be astonished at his day, as those who went before were frightened.
21 Only these [are] dwelling places of the perverse, And this [is] the place God has not known.”
Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous. This is the place of him who doesn’t know God.”

< Job 18 >