Bildad Rebukes Job
Study note
Bildad is annoyed that Job keeps talking. He accuses Job of treating them like unintelligent animals. He asks if the world should be turned upside down just because Job is upset. Bildad shows no empathy -- only irritation.
1 Then Bildad from Shuah spoke up and said, Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 'When are you going to stop all this talking? Use your brain first, and then maybe we can have a real conversation.' How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.
3 'Why do you treat us like we are mindless animals? Why do you act like we have no understanding at all?' Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?
4 'You are ripping yourself apart with your own fury. Should the whole world empty out because of you? Should God rearrange the rocks to suit your feelings?' He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?
The Fate of the Wicked
Study note
Bildad describes the fate of the wicked in vivid detail. Their light goes out. They are caught in their own traps. Terrors chase them at every turn. Disease eats their skin. They are torn from the safety of their home and brought before the king of terrors -- death itself. Their memory perishes from the earth. They have no children or descendants. Everyone who hears about their fate is horrified. Bildad's conclusion: this is the dwelling place of someone who does not know God. The implication for Job is unmistakable.
5 'Here is the truth: the light that belongs to wicked people will be snuffed out. The flame in their fire will stop burning.' Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.
6 'The light inside their tent will fade to black. The lamp hanging over them will flicker and die.' The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.
7 'Their powerful strides will shrink to tiny steps. Their own schemes will be what trips them.' The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.
8 'Their very own feet will carry them into a net. They will walk right onto the mesh of a trap.' For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.
9 'A snare will clamp down on their heel. A trap will lock tight around them.' The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.
10 'A hidden rope waits for them on the ground. A trap lies in wait right along their path.' The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.
11 'Frightening things come at them from all directions, nipping at their heels wherever they step.' Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.
12 'Hunger gnaws away at their strength. Ruin is standing right beside them, ready to strike.' His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side.
13 'Disease eats away at their skin piece by piece. The deadliest plague devours their body.' It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength.
14 'They are ripped away from the safety of their tent and dragged off to face the king of all terrors.' His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.
15 'Nothing that belongs to them will remain in their tent. Burning sulfur is spread across their home.' It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.
16 'Underground, their roots wither and dry up. Above ground, their branches die off.' His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.
17 'Every trace of them vanishes from the face of the earth. Nobody anywhere remembers their name.' His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.
18 'They are shoved out of the light and into the darkness. They are chased right out of this world.' He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.
19 'They leave behind no children and no grandchildren. No one is left in the place where they once lived.' He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.
20 'People in the west are horrified by what happened to them. People in the east tremble with fear when they hear about it.' They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted.
21 'Make no mistake -- this is what becomes of a wicked person's home. This is the end for anyone who refuses to know God.' Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.