Anticipation of Death

10 “But turn, all of you, and come now!

I will not find a wise man among you.

11  My days have passed, my plans are shattered,

even the desires of my heart.

12  These men change night into day;

they say, ‘The light is near

in the face of darkness.’

13  If I hope for the grave to be my home,

if I spread out my bed in darkness,

14  If I cry to corruption, ‘You are my father,’

and to the worm, ‘My Mother,’ or ‘My sister,’

15  where then is my hope?

And my hope, who sees it?

16  Will it go down to the barred gates of death?

Will we descend together into the dust?”

18  Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:

2 “How long until you make an end of words?

You must consider, and then we can talk.

3  Why should we be regarded as beasts,

and considered stupid in your sight?

4  You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger,

will the earth be abandoned for your sake?

Or will a rock be moved from its place?

5 “Yes, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished;

his flame of fire does not shine.

6  The light in his tent grows dark;

his lamp above him is extinguished.

7  His vigorous steps are restricted,

and his own counsel throws him down.

8  For he has been thrown into a net by his feet

and he wanders into a mesh.

9  A trap seizes him by the heel;

a snare grips him.

10  A rope is hidden for him on the ground

and a trap for him lies on the path.

11  Terrors frighten him on all sides

and dog his every step.

12  Calamity is hungry for him,

and misfortune is ready at his side.

13  It eats away parts of his skin;

the most terrible death devours his limbs.

14  He is dragged from the security of his tent,

and marched off to the king of terrors.

15  Fire resides in his tent;

over his residence burning sulfur is scattered.

16  Below his roots dry up,

and his branches wither above.

17  His memory perishes from the earth,

he has no name in the land.

18  He is driven from light into darkness

and is banished from the world.

19  He has neither children nor descendants among his people,

no survivor in those places he once stayed.

20  People of the west are appalled at his fate;

people of the east are seized with horror, saying,

21 ‘Surely such is the residence of an evil man;

and this is the place of one who has not known God.’ ”

19  Then Job answered:

2 “How long will you torment me

and crush me with your words?

3  These ten times you have been reproaching me;

you are not ashamed to attack me!

4  But even if it were true that I have erred,

my error remains solely my concern!

5  If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me

and plead my disgrace against me,

6  know then that God has wronged me

and encircled me with his net.