18

Bildad: The Wicked Are Punished

1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
  2“How long till you put an end to words?
   Gain understanding, and afterward we will speak.
   3Why are we counted as beasts,
   And regarded as stupid in your sight?
   4You who tear yourself in anger,
   Shall the earth be forsaken for you?
   Or shall the rock be removed from its place?
  5“The light of the wicked indeed goes out,
   And the flame of his fire does not shine.
   6The light is dark in his tent,
   And his lamp beside him is put out.
   7The steps of his strength are shortened,
   And his own counsel casts him down.
   8For he is cast into a net by his own feet,
   And he walks into a snare.
   9The net takes him by the heel,
   Anda snare lays hold of him.
   10A noose is hidden for him on the ground,
   And a trap for him in the road.
   11Terrors frighten him on every side,
   And drive him to his feet.
   12His strength is starved,
   And destruction is ready at his side.
   13It devours patches of his skin;
   The firstborn of death devours his limbs.
   14He is uprooted from the shelter of his tent,
   And they parade him before the king of terrors.
   15They dwell in his tent who are none of his;
   Brimstone is scattered on his dwelling.
   16His roots are dried out below,
   And his branch withers above.
   17The memory of him perishes from the earth,
   And he has no name among the renowned.
   18He is driven from light into darkness,
   And chased out of the world.
   19He has neither son nor posterity among his people,
   Nor any remaining in his dwellings.
   20Those in the west are astonished at his day,
   As those in the east are frightened.
   21Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked,
   And this is the place of him whodoes not know God.”