Job 8
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
Then Bildad, from [the] Shuah [area], spoke to Job. He said,
2 “How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
“Job, how much longer will you talk like this? What you say is [only] hot air.
3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
Almighty God certainly never does [RHQ] what is unfair/unjust. He always does [LIT] what is right/fair.
4 When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.
So, it is evident that your children have sinned against him, therefore he has caused them to be punished for evil things that they have done.
5 But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,
But, if you will [now] earnestly request [DOU] Almighty [God] to help you,
6 if you are pure and upright, even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf and restore your righteous estate.
and if you are pure and honest/righteous, he will surely do something good for you and reward you by giving your family back to you and enabling you to prosper.
7 Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish.
And even though you [think that you] were not very prosperous/wealthy before, during the last part of your life you will become very wealthy.
8 Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.
“I request you to think about what happened long ago and consider what our ancestors found out.
9 For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.
[It seems as though] we were born only yesterday and we know very little [HYP]; our time here on the earth [disappears quickly, like] a shadow [MET].
10 Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding?
So, why do you not allow your ancestors to teach you and tell you something? Allow them to tell you from what they learned!
11 Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?
Papyrus can certainly not [RHQ] grow in places where there is no marsh/swamp; reeds certainly cannot [RHQ] flourish/grow where there is no water.
12 While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass.
[If they do not have enough water], while they are still blossoming, they wither more quickly than other plants wither.
13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
Those who do not pay attention to what God says are like those [reeds]; godless people stop confidently expecting [that good things will happen to them].
14 His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.
The things they confidently expect to happen do not happen; things they trust [will help them] are [as fragile as] [MET] a spider’s web.
15 He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.
If they lean against a house (OR, trust in their wealth; OR, lean on a spider web), it does not (endure/protect them) [LIT]; they cling to things [to be protected], but those things do not remain firm.
16 He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.
Godless people [are like plants] [MET] that are watered before the sun rises; their shoots spread all over the gardens.
17 His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones.
The roots of those plants twist around piles of stones and cling tightly to rocks.
18 If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’
But if those plants are pulled out, [it is as though] the place where they were planted says ‘They were never here!’ [And that is what happens to wicked people who do not heed what God says].
19 Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.
Truly, evil people [MET] are not joyful [IRO] for a long time; other people come and take their places.
20 Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.
:So, [I tell you, Job], God will not reject you if you are truly godly/righteous, but he does not help [IDM] evil people.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.
He will enable you [MTY] to continually laugh and to always shout [joyfully].
22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
But those who hate you will be very ashamed, and the homes of wicked people will disappear.”
