Job 8
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
Then Baldad the Sauchite answered, 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, [how long shall] the breath of your mouth [be] abundant in words?
3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
Will the Lord be unjust when he judges; or will he that has made all things pervert justice?
4 When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.
If your sons have sinned before him, he has cast them away because of their transgression.
5 But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,
But be you early in prayer to the Lord Almighty.
6 if you are pure and upright, even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf and restore your righteous estate.
If you are pure and true, he will listen to your supplication, and will restore to you the habitation of righteousness.
7 Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish.
Though then your beginning should be small, yet your end should be unspeakably great.
8 Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.
For ask of the former generation, and search diligently among the race of [our] fathers:
9 For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.
(for we are of yesterday, and know nothing; for our life upon the earth is a shadow: )
10 Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding?
shall not these teach you, and report [to you], and bring out words from [their] heart?
11 Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?
Does the rush flourish without water, or shall the flag grow up without moisture?
12 While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass.
When it is yet on the root, and [though] it has not been cut down, does not any herb wither before it has received moisture?
13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
Thus then shall be the end of all that forget the Lord: for the hope of the ungodly shall perish.
14 His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.
For his house shall be without inhabitants, and his tent shall prove a spider's web.
15 He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.
If he should prop up his house, it shall not stand: and when he has taken hold of it, it shall not remain.
16 He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.
For it is moist under the sun, and his branch shall come forth out of his dung-heap.
17 His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones.
He lies down upon a gathering of stones, and shall live in the mist of flints.
18 If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’
If [God] should destroy [him], his place shall deny him. Hast you not seen such things,
19 Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.
that such is the overthrow of the ungodly? and out of the earth another shall grow.
20 Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.
For the Lord will by no means reject the harmless man; but he will not receive any gift of the ungodly.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.
But he will fill with laughter the mouth of the sincere, and their lips with thanksgiving.
22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
But their adversaries shall clothe themselves with shame; and the habitation of the ungodly shall perish.
