Job 8
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite spoke up and said,
Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
2 “How much longer will you go on talking like this? The words coming out of your mouth are a lot of hot air!
“How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
4 Your children must have sinned against him, and so they deserved the punishment he inflicted on them.
If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.
5 But if you pray to God and ask for his help,
If you want to seek God diligently, make your supplication to the Almighty.
6 if you live a clean life and do what is right, then he would act to make things right for you in your home.
If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
7 Though you began with next to nothing, you will end up with so much!
Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.
8 Why don't you ask what previous generations discovered, examine what our ancestors found out? We were born yesterday and don't know anything!
“Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.
9 Our days on earth fade as quickly as a passing shadow.
(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.)
10 Won't they teach you and explain what they know?
Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?
11 Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds grow without water?
“Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?
12 Even without being cut, while they are still flowering, they wither faster than grass.
While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.
13 This is what happens to everyone who forgets God. The hopes of those who live without God come to nothing.
So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man will perish,
14 Their confidence is like holding on to a flimsy spider's web.
whose confidence will break apart, whose trust is a spider’s web.
15 They look to their home to provide security, but it provides no support. They try to hang onto it, but it doesn't last.
He will lean on his house, but it will not stand. He will cling to it, but it will not endure.
16 Those who live without God are like a luxuriant plant growing in the sun, spreading its shoots all over the garden.
He is green before the sun. His shoots go out along his garden.
17 It twists its roots down through the stones, and holds on to rock.
His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones.
18 But when it's cut down, the place where it was disowns it, saying, ‘I never even saw you.’
If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’
19 Its life is over, and others spring up from the earth to take its place.
Behold, this is the joy of his way. Out of the earth, others will spring.
20 Look, God doesn't reject someone who is innocent, and he doesn't support those who are guilty.
“Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.
21 He can make you laugh with happiness again and shout for joy.
He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.
22 Those who hate you will be put to shame, and the place where the wicked live will be destroyed.”
Those who hate you will be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked will be no more.”
