< Job 8 >
1 And Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,
Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and the words of thy mouth be a strong wind?
“How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
3 Doth God pervert judgment, and the Almighty pervert justice?
Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
4 If thy children have sinned against him, he hath also given them over into the hand of their transgression.
If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.
5 If thou seek earnestly unto God, and make thy supplication to the Almighty,
If you want to seek God diligently, make your 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 you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
7 And though thy beginning was small, yet thine end shall be very great.
Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.
8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former generation, and attend to the researches of their fathers;
“Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning 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 on earth are a shadow.)
10 Shall not they teach thee, [and] tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?
11 Doth the papyrus shoot up without mire? doth the reed-grass grow without water?
“Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?
12 Whilst it is yet in its greenness [and] not cut down, it withereth before any [other] grass.
While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.
13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the profane man's hope shall perish,
So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man will perish,
14 Whose confidence shall be cut off, and his reliance is a spider's web.
whose confidence will break apart, whose trust is 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 will lean on his house, but it will not stand. He will cling to it, but it will 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. His shoots go out along his garden.
17 His roots are entwined about the stoneheap; he seeth the place of stones.
His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones.
18 If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him: I have not seen thee!
If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’
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. Out of the earth, others will spring.
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 blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.
21 Whilst he would fill thy mouth with laughing and thy lips with shouting,
He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked be no more.
Those who hate you will be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked will be no more.”