Chapter 18
1Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2“How long until you end these speeches? Show some sense, and then we can talk.
3Why are we regarded as cattle, as stupid in your sight?
4You who tear yourself in anger—should the earth be forsaken on your account, or the rocks be moved from their place?
5Indeed, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished; the flame of his fire does not glow.
6The light in his tent grows dark, and the lamp beside him goes out.
7His vigorous stride is shortened, and his own schemes trip him up.
8For his own feet lead him into a net, and he wanders into its mesh.
9A trap seizes his heel; a snare grips him.
10A noose is hidden in the ground, and a trap lies in his path.
11Terrors frighten him on every side and harass his every step.
12His strength is depleted, and calamity is ready at his side.
13It devours patches of his skin; the firstborn of death devours his limbs.
14He is torn from the shelter of his tent and is marched off to the king of terrors.
15Fire resides in his tent; burning sulfur rains down on his dwelling.
16The roots beneath him dry up, and the branches above him wither away.
17The memory of him perishes from the earth, and he has no name in the land.
18He is driven from light into darkness and is chased from the inhabited world.
19He has no offspring or posterity among his people, no survivor where he once lived.
20Those in the west are appalled at his fate, while those in the east tremble in horror.
21Surely such is the dwelling of the wicked and the place of one who does not know God.”
22For all His ordinances are before me; I have not disregarded His statutes.
23And I have been blameless before Him and kept myself from iniquity.
24So the LORD has repaid me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.
25To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless You show Yourself blameless;
26to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.
27For You save an afflicted people, but You humble those with haughty eyes.
28For You, O LORD, light my lamp; my God lights up my darkness.
29For in You I can charge an army, and with my God I can scale a wall.
30As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
31For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?
32It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way clear.
33He makes my feet like those of a deer and stations me upon the heights.
34He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35You have given me Your shield of salvation; Your right hand upholds me, and Your gentleness exalts me.
36You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not give way.
37I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until they were consumed.
38I crushed them so they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet.
39You have armed me with strength for battle; You have subdued my foes beneath me.
40You have made my enemies retreat before me; I destroyed those who hated me.
41They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—to the LORD, but He did not answer.
42I ground them as dust in the face of the wind; I trampled them like mud in the streets.
43You have delivered me from the strife of the people; You have made me the head of nations; a people I had not known shall serve me.
44When they hear me, they obey me; foreigners cower before me.
45Foreigners lose heart and come trembling from their strongholds.
46The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock! And may the God of my salvation be exalted—
47the God who avenges me and subdues nations beneath me,
48who delivers me from my enemies. You exalt me above my foes; You rescue me from violent men.
49Therefore I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to Your name.
50Great salvation He brings to His king. He shows loving devotion to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever.