Bildad: The Wicked Are Punished
1 ThenBildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 “How longtillyou put an end to words?
Gain understanding, and afterward we will speak.
3 Why are we countedas beasts,
Andregarded as stupid in your sight?
4 You who tear yourself in anger,
Shall the earth be forsaken for you?
Or shall the rock be removed from its place?
5 “Thelight of the wicked indeed goes out,
And the flame of his fire does not shine.
6 The light is dark in his tent,
# And his lamp beside him is put out.
7 The steps of his strength are shortened,
# Andhis own counsel casts him down.
8 Forhe is cast into a net by his own feet,
And he walks into a snare.
9 The net takeshimby the heel,
# Anda snare lays hold of him.
10 A nooseishidden for him on the ground,
And a trap for him in the road.
11 Terrors frighten him on every side,
And drive him to his feet.
12 His strength is starved,
# Anddestructionisready at his side.
13 It devours patches of his skin;
The firstborn of death devours his limbs.
14 He is uprooted fromthe shelter of his tent,
And they parade him before the king of terrors.
15 They dwell in his tentwhoarenone of his;
Brimstone is scattered on his dwelling.
16 His roots are dried out below,
And his branch withers above.
17 The memory of him perishes from the earth,
And he has no name among the renowned.
18 He is driven from light into darkness,
And chased out of the world.
19 He has neither son nor posterity among his people,
Nor any remaining in his dwellings.
20 Those in the west are astonishedat his day,
As those in the east are frightened.
21 Surely sucharethe dwellings of the wicked,
# And thisisthe placeofhimwhodoes not know God.”