Job 8
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and 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 these things? and how long shall the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?
3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
Does God pervert judgment? or does the Almighty pervert justice?
4 When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.
If your children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;
5 But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,
If you would seek unto God early, and make your supplication to 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 were pure and upright; surely now he would awake for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
7 Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish.
Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end should greatly increase.
8 Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.
For enquire, I pray you, of the former age, and prepare yourself to the search of their fathers:
9 For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.
(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow: )
10 Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding?
Shall not they teach you, and tell you, and utter words out of their heart?
11 Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?
Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
12 While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass.
Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withers before any other herb.
13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:
14 His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.
Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.
15 He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.
He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
16 He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.
He is green before the sun, and his branch shoots forth in his garden.
17 His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones.
His roots are wrapped about the heap, and sees the place of stones.
18 If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’
If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen you.
19 Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.
Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
20 Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.
Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.
Till he fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing.
22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
They that hate you shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nothing.
