Job 18

Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked

1 Then *ch. 2:11;8:1Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

2 "How long will you *[Matt. 22:15;Mark 12:13;Luke 20:20]hunt for words?

Consider, and then we will speak.

3 Why are we counted as *Ps. 73:22cattle?

Why are we stupid in your sight?

4 You who *ch. 16:9tear yourself in your anger,

shall the earth be forsaken for you,

or *ch. 14:18the rock be removed out of its place?

5 "Indeed, *ch. 21:17;Prov. 13:9;20:20;24:20;See Ps. 18:28the light of the wicked is put out,

and the flame of his fire does not shine.

6 The light is *ch. 10:22dark in his tent,

and his lamp above him is put out.

7 His strong steps are shortened,

and his *[ch. 5:13]own schemes throw him down.

8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet,

and he walks on its mesh.

9 *Ps. 140:5A trap seizes him by the heel;

a snare lays hold of him.

10 A rope is hidden for him in the ground,

a trap for him in the path.

11 *ch. 15:21;20:25;27:20;30:15;Jer. 6:25;46:5;49:29Terrors frighten him on every side,

and chase him at his heels.

12 His strength is famished,

and calamity is *Ps. 38:17ready for his stumbling.

13 It consumes the parts of his skin;

*Isa. 14:30the firstborn of death consumes his limbs.

14 He is torn from the tent in which he trusted

and is brought to *[Rev. 9:11]the king of terrors.

15 In his tent dwells that which is none of his;

*See Ps. 11:6;Ezek. 38:22sulfur is scattered over his habitation.

16 His *ch. 29:19;Hos. 9:16roots dry up beneath,

and his branches *ch. 14:2wither above.

17 His *Ps. 34:16;Prov. 10:7;[Ps. 109:13,15]memory perishes from the earth,

and he has no name in the street.

18 *ch. 10:21,22He is thrust from light into darkness,

and driven out of the world.

19 He has no *Isa. 14:22posterity or progeny among his people,

and no survivor where he used to live.

20 They of the west are appalled at his *Ps. 37:13;Jer. 50:27;Ezek. 21:25,29;Obad. 12;[1 Sam. 26:10] day,

and *[ch. 21:6]horror seizes them of the east.

21 Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous,

such is the place of him who *Judg. 2:10;Jer. 9:3;10:25;1 Thess. 4:8;2 Thess. 1:8knows not God."