Job 8
1 But Baldad the Suhite, responding, said:
Then Bildad the Shuhite made answer and said,
2 How long will you speak this way, so that the words of your mouth are like a changeable wind?
How long will you say these things, and how long will the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?
3 Does God supplant judgment, or does the Almighty subvert that which is just?
Does God give wrong decisions? or is the Ruler of all not upright in his judging?
4 And if now your children have sinned against him, and he has dismissed them into the power of their iniquity,
If your children have done evil against him, then their punishment is from his hand.
5 even so, you should arise early to God, so as to beseech the Almighty.
If you will make search for God with care, and put your request before the Ruler of all;
6 If you approach with purity and honesty, he will quickly be attentive to you, and a peaceful life will repay your righteousness,
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.
7 so much so that, if your former things were small, your latter things would be multiplied greatly.
And though your start was small, your end will be very great.
8 For inquire of the earliest generation, and investigate diligently the history of the fathers,
Put the question now to the past generations, and give attention to what has been searched out by their fathers:
9 (of course, we are but of yesterday and are ignorant that our days on earth are like a shadow, )
(For we are but of yesterday, and have no knowledge, because our days on earth are gone like a shade: )
10 and they will teach you; they will speak with you and will offer you the eloquence of their hearts.
Will they not give you teaching, and say words of wisdom to you?
11 Can the marsh plant live without moisture? Or can sedges grow without water?
Will the river-plant come up in its pride without wet earth? will the grass get tall without water?
12 When it is still in flower, and has not been pulled up by hand, it withers before all other plants.
When it is still green, without being cut down, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant.
13 Just so are the ways of all who forget God, and the hope of the hypocrite will perish.
So is the end of all who do not keep God in mind; and the hope of the evil-doer comes to nothing:
14 His frenzy will not please him, and his faith will be like a spider’s web.
Whose support is cut off, and whose hope is no stronger than a spider's thread.
15 He will lean on his house, and it will not stand; he will prop it up, but it will not rise.
He is looking to his family for support, but it is not there; he puts his hope in it, but it comes to nothing.
16 He seems to have moisture before the sun arrives; and at sunrise, his sprout shoots forth.
He is full of strength before the sun, and his branches go out over his garden.
17 His roots will crowd together over a heap of stones, and among the stones he will remain.
His roots are twisted round the stones, forcing their way in between them.
18 If someone is devoured right beside him, he will deny him and will say: “I do not know you.”
If he is taken away from his place, then it will say, I have not seen you.
19 For this is the benefit of his way, that others in turn may spring up from the earth.
Such is the joy of his way, and out of the dust another comes up to take his place.
20 God will not discard the simple, nor will he extend his hand to the spiteful,
Truly, God will not give up him who is without sin, and will not take evil-doers by the hand.
21 even until your mouth is filled with laughter and your lips with rejoicing.
The time will come when your mouth will be full of laughing, and cries of joy will come from your lips.
22 Those who hate you, will be clothed with confusion, and the tabernacle of the impious will not continue.
Your haters will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the sinner will not be seen again.
