Job 18

Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked

¹⁸Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:

²“How long will you hunt for words?

Consider, and then we shall speak.

³Why are we counted as cattle?

Why are we stupid in your sight?^*

⁴You who tear yourself in your anger—

shall the earth be forsaken because of you

or the rock be removed out of its place?^*

⁵“Surely the light of the wicked is put out,

and the flame of their fire does not shine.^*

⁶The light is dark in their tent,

and the lamp above them is put out.

⁷Their strong steps are shortened,

and their own schemes throw them down.^*

⁸For they are thrust into a net by their own feet,

and they walk into a pitfall.^*

⁹A trap seizes them by the heel;

a snare lays hold of them.^*

¹⁰A rope is hid for them in the ground,

a trap for them in the path.^*

¹¹Terrors frighten them on every side

and chase them at their heels.^*

¹²Their strength is consumed by hunger,^y

and calamity is ready for their stumbling.^*

¹³By disease their skin is consumed;^z

the firstborn of Death consumes their limbs.

¹⁴They are torn from the tent in which they trusted

and are brought to the king of terrors.^*

¹⁵In their tents nothing remains;

sulfur is scattered upon their habitations.^*

¹⁶Their roots dry up beneath,

and their branches wither above.^*

¹⁷Their memory perishes from the earth,

and they have no name in the street.^*

¹⁸They are thrust from light into darkness

and driven out of the world.

¹⁹They have no offspring or descendant among their people

and no survivor where they used to live.^*

²⁰They of the west are appalled at their fate,

and horror seizes those of the east.

²¹Surely such are the dwellings of the ungodly;

such is the place of those who do not know God.”^*