Job 18

Bildad: the light of the wicked goes out

¹Then Bildad the Shuhite answered: ²How long before you all put an end to words? \q Think it through, and then we can talk.^{a 3}Why are we regarded as cattle, \q as stupid in your sight? ⁴You who tear yourself apart in your anger, \q should the earth be abandoned for your sake, \q or the rock be moved from its place? ⁵Yes, the light of the wicked goes out; \q the flame of his fire does not shine. ⁶The light in his tent grows dark, \q and the lamp above him goes out. ⁷His strong stride is cut short, \q and his own schemes bring him down. ⁸For his own feet lead him into a net, \q and he wanders onto a covered pit. ⁹A trap grabs him by the heel; \q a snare holds him tight. ¹⁰A noose is hidden for him on the ground, \q a trap lies in his path. ¹¹Terrors frighten him on every side \q and dog his every step. ¹²His strength is starved, \q and disaster stands ready for him to stumble.^{b 13}Disease eats away his skin; \q the firstborn of death devours his limbs. ¹⁴He is torn from the tent where he felt safe \q and marched off to the king of terrors. ¹⁵Nothing of his remains in his tent; \q burning sulfur is scattered over his home.^{c 16}His roots dry up below, \q and his branches wither above. ¹⁷All memory of him perishes from the land; \q no one in the street speaks his name. ¹⁸He is driven from light into darkness \q and chased out of the world. ¹⁹He has no children or grandchildren among his people, \q no survivor where he once lived. ²⁰People of the west are appalled at his fate, \q and people of the east are seized with horror.^{d 21}Surely this is what becomes of the homes of the unjust, \q the place of one who does not know God.