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 wilt thou speak such things? How long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
Will God pervert judgment? Or will the Almighty pervert justice?
4 When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.
As thy children sinned against him, He hath given them up to their transgression.
5 But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,
But if thou wilt seek early to God, And make thy 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 thou wilt be pure and upright, Surely he will yet arise for thee, And prosper thy righteous habitation;
7 Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish.
So that thy beginning shall be small, And thy latter end very great.
8 Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.
For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, And mark what hath been searched out by their 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, Since our days upon the earth are but a shadow; )
10 Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding?
Will not they instruct thee, and tell thee, And utter words from their understanding?
11 Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?
“Can the paper-reed grow up without mire? Can the bulrush grow without water?
12 While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass.
While it is yet in its greenness, and is not cut down, It withereth before any other herb.
13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
Such is the fate of all who forget God; So perisheth the hope of the ungodly.
14 His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.
His confidence shall come to nought, And his trust shall prove 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, and it shall not stand; He shall lay fast hold on it, but it shall not endure.
16 He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.
He is in full green before the sun, And his branches shoot forth over his garden;
17 His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones.
His roots are entwined about the heap, And he seeth the place of stones;
18 If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’
When he shall be destroyed from his place, It shall deny him, saying, 'I never saw thee.'
19 Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.
Lo! such is the joy of his course! And others shall spring up from his place”
20 Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.
Behold, God will not cast away an upright man; Nor will he help the evil-doers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.
While he filleth thy mouth with laughter, And thy lips with gladness,
22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame, And the dwelling-place of the wicked shall come to nought.
