Job 8
1 The Baldad the Suhite answered, and said:
Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2 How long wilt thou speak these things, and how long shall the words of thy 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 Doth God pervert judgment, or doth the Almighty overthrow that which is just?
Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4 Although thy children have sinned against him, and he hath left them in the hand of their iniquity:
When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.
5 Yet if thou wilt arise early to God, and wilt beseech the Almighty:
But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,
6 If thou wilt walk clean and upright, he will presently awake onto thee, and will make the dwelling of thy justice peaceable:
if you are pure and upright, even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf and restore your righteous estate.
7 Insomuch, that if thy former things were small, thy latter things would be multiplied exceedingly.
Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish.
8 For inquire of the former generation, and search diligently into the memory of the fathers:
Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.
9 (For we are but of yesterday, and are ignorant that our days upon earth are but a shadow: )
For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.
10 And they shall teach thee: they shall speak to thee, and utter words out of their hearts.
Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding?
11 Can the rush be green without moisture? or a sedge-bush grow without water?
Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?
12 When it is yet in flower, and is not plucked up with the hand, it withereth before all herbs.
While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass.
13 Even so are the ways of all that forget God, and the hope of the hypocrite shall perish:
Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
14 His folly shall not please him, and his trust shall be like the spider’s web.
His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.
15 He shall lean upon his house, and it shall not stand: he shall prop it up, and it shall not rise:
He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.
16 He seemeth to have moisture before the sun cometh, and at his rising his blossom shall shoot forth.
He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.
17 His roots shall be thick upon a heap of stones, and among the stones he shall abide.
His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones.
18 If one swallow him up out of his place, he shall deny him, and shall say: I know thee not.
If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’
19 For this is the joy of his way, that others may spring again out of the earth.
Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.
20 God will not cast away the simple, nor reach out his hand to the evildoer:
Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.
21 Until thy mouth be filled with laughter, and thy lips with rejoicing.
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.
22 They that hate thee, shall be clothed with confusion: and the dwelling of the wicked shall not stand.
Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
