Job 8
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
But Baldad the Suhite, responding, said:
2 “How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
How long will you speak this way, so that the words of your mouth are like a changeable wind?
3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
Does God supplant judgment, or does the Almighty subvert that which is just?
4 When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.
And if now your children have sinned against him, and he has dismissed them into the power of their iniquity,
5 But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,
even so, you should arise early to God, so as to beseech the Almighty.
6 if you are pure and upright, even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf and restore your righteous estate.
If you approach with purity and honesty, he will quickly be attentive to you, and a peaceful life will repay your righteousness,
7 Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish.
so much so that, if your former things were small, your latter things would be multiplied greatly.
8 Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.
For inquire of the earliest generation, and investigate diligently the history of the fathers,
9 For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.
(of course, we are but of yesterday and are ignorant that our days on earth are like a shadow, )
10 Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding?
and they will teach you; they will speak with you and will offer you the eloquence of their hearts.
11 Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?
Can the marsh plant live without moisture? Or can sedges grow without water?
12 While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass.
When it is still in flower, and has not been pulled up by hand, it withers before all other plants.
13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
Just so are the ways of all who forget God, and the hope of the hypocrite will perish.
14 His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.
His frenzy will not please him, and his faith will be like a spider’s web.
15 He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.
He will lean on his house, and it will not stand; he will prop it up, but it will not rise.
16 He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.
He seems to have moisture before the sun arrives; and at sunrise, his sprout shoots forth.
17 His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones.
His roots will crowd together over a heap of stones, and among the stones he will remain.
18 If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’
If someone is devoured right beside him, he will deny him and will say: “I do not know you.”
19 Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.
For this is the benefit of his way, that others in turn may spring up from the earth.
20 Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.
God will not discard the simple, nor will he extend his hand to the spiteful,
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.
even until your mouth is filled with laughter and your lips with rejoicing.
22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
Those who hate you, will be clothed with confusion, and the tabernacle of the impious will not continue.
