Job 8
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite made answer and said,
Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2 How long will you say these things, and how long will the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?
“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
3 Does God give wrong decisions? or is the Ruler of all not upright in his judging?
Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4 If your children have done evil against him, then their punishment is from his hand.
When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.
5 If you will make search for God with care, and put your request before the Ruler of all;
But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,
6 If you are clean and upright; then he will certainly be moved to take up your cause, and will make clear your righteousness by building up your house again.
if you are pure and upright, even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf and restore your righteous estate.
7 And though your start was small, your end will be very great.
Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish.
8 Put the question now to the past generations, and give attention to what has been searched out by their fathers:
Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.
9 (For we are but of yesterday, and have no knowledge, because our days on earth are gone like a shade: )
For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.
10 Will they not give you teaching, and say words of wisdom to you?
Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding?
11 Will the river-plant come up in its pride without wet earth? will the grass get tall without water?
Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?
12 When it is still green, without being cut down, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant.
While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass.
13 So is the end of all who do not keep God in mind; and the hope of the evil-doer comes to nothing:
Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
14 Whose support is cut off, and whose hope is no stronger than a spider's thread.
His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.
15 He is looking to his family for support, but it is not there; he puts his hope in it, but it comes to nothing.
He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.
16 He is full of strength before the sun, and his branches go out over his garden.
He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.
17 His roots are twisted round the stones, forcing their way in between them.
His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones.
18 If he is taken away from his place, then it will say, I have not seen you.
If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’
19 Such is the joy of his way, and out of the dust another comes up to take his place.
Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.
20 Truly, God will not give up him who is without sin, and will not take evil-doers by the hand.
Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.
21 The time will come when your mouth will be full of laughing, and cries of joy will come from your lips.
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.
22 Your haters will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the sinner will not be seen again.
Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
