< Job 8 >

1 And Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,
Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and the words of thy mouth be a strong wind?
How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
3 Doth God pervert judgment, and the Almighty pervert justice?
Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
4 If thy children have sinned against him, he hath also given them over into the hand of their transgression.
If thy children have sinned against him, and he hath cast them away for their transgression;
5 If thou seek earnestly unto God, and make thy supplication to the Almighty,
If thou wouldest seek to God early, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6 If thou be pure and upright, surely now he will awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous;
If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7 And though thy beginning was small, yet thine end shall be very great.
Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former generation, and attend to the researches of their fathers;
For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
9 For we are [but] of yesterday, and know nothing, for our days upon earth are a shadow.
(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow: )
10 Shall not they teach thee, [and] tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
Shall they not teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
11 Doth the papyrus shoot up without mire? doth the reed-grass grow without water?
Can the rush grow without mire? can the flag grow without water?
12 Whilst it is yet in its greenness [and] not cut down, it withereth before any [other] grass.
While it is still green, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the profane man's hope shall perish,
So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:
14 Whose confidence shall be cut off, and his reliance is a spider's web.
Whose confidence shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web.
15 He shall lean upon his house, and it shall not stand; he shall lay hold on it, but it shall not endure.
He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
16 He is full of sap before the sun, and his sprout shooteth forth over his garden;
He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
17 His roots are entwined about the stoneheap; he seeth the place of stones.
His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.
18 If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him: I have not seen thee!
If he shall be destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the dust shall others grow.
Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
20 Behold, God will not cast off a perfect man, neither will he take evil-doers by the hand.
Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evildoers:
21 Whilst he would fill thy mouth with laughing and thy lips with shouting,
Till he shall fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked be no more.
They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.

< Job 8 >