Job 18 – NIRV & NIV

New International Reader’s Version

Job 18:1-21

The Second Speech of Bildad

1Then Bildad the Shuhite replied,

2“Job, when will you stop these speeches of yours?

Be reasonable! Then we can talk.

3Why do you look at us as if we were cattle?

Why do you think of us as being stupid?

4Your anger is tearing you to pieces.

Does the earth have to be deserted just to prove you are right?

Must all the rocks be moved from their places?

5“The lamps of sinful people are blown out.

Their flames will never burn again.

6The lights in their tents become dark.

The lamps beside those who are evil go out.

7They walk more slowly than they used to.

Their own evil plans make them fall.

8Their feet take them into a net.

They wander right into it.

9A trap grabs hold of their heels.

It refuses to let them go.

10A trap lies in their path.

A rope to catch them is hidden on the ground.

11Terrors alarm them on every side.

They follow them every step of the way.

12Trouble would like to eat them up.

Danger waits for them when they fall.

13It eats away parts of their skin.

Death itself feeds on their arms and legs.

14They are torn away from the safety of their tents.

They are marched off to the one who rules over death.

15Fire races through their tents.

Burning sulfur is scattered over their homes.

16Their roots dry up under them.

Their branches dry up above them.

17No one on earth remembers them.

Their names are forgotten in the land.

18They are driven from light into the place of darkness.

They are thrown out of the world.

19Their family dies out among their people.

No one is left where they used to live.

20What has happened to them shocks the people in the west.

It terrifies the people in the east.

21Now you know what the homes of sinners are like.

Those who don’t know God live in places like that.”

New International Version

Job 18:1-21

Bildad

1Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

2“When will you end these speeches?

Be sensible, and then we can talk.

3Why are we regarded as cattle

and considered stupid in your sight?

4You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger,

is the earth to be abandoned for your sake?

Or must the rocks be moved from their place?

5“The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out;

the flame of his fire stops burning.

6The light in his tent becomes dark;

the lamp beside him goes out.

7The vigor of his step is weakened;

his own schemes throw him down.

8His feet thrust him into a net;

he wanders into its mesh.

9A trap seizes him by the heel;

a snare holds him fast.

10A noose is hidden for him on the ground;

a trap lies in his path.

11Terrors startle him on every side

and dog his every step.

12Calamity is hungry for him;

disaster is ready for him when he falls.

13It eats away parts of his skin;

death’s firstborn devours his limbs.

14He is torn from the security of his tent

and marched off to the king of terrors.

15Fire resides18:15 Or Nothing he had remains in his tent;

burning sulfur is scattered over his dwelling.

16His roots dry up below

and his branches wither above.

17The memory of him perishes from the earth;

he has no name in the land.

18He is driven from light into the realm of darkness

and is banished from the world.

19He has no offspring or descendants among his people,

no survivor where once he lived.

20People of the west are appalled at his fate;

those of the east are seized with horror.

21Surely such is the dwelling of an evil man;

such is the place of one who does not know God.”