Job 8
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite spoke up and said,
And Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,
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 wilt thou speak these things? and the words of thy mouth be a strong wind?
3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
Doth God pervert judgment, and the Almighty pervert justice?
4 Your children must have sinned against him, and so they deserved the punishment he inflicted on them.
If thy children have sinned against him, he hath also given them over into the hand of their transgression.
5 But if you pray to God and ask for his help,
If thou seek earnestly unto God, and make thy 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 thou be pure and upright, surely now he will awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous;
7 Though you began with next to nothing, you will end up with so much!
And though thy beginning was small, yet thine end shall be very great.
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!
For inquire, I pray thee, of the former generation, and attend to the researches of their fathers;
9 Our days on earth fade as quickly as a passing shadow.
For we are [but] of yesterday, and know nothing, for our days upon earth are a shadow.
10 Won't they teach you and explain what they know?
Shall not they teach thee, [and] tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
11 Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds grow without water?
Doth the papyrus shoot up without mire? doth the reed-grass grow without water?
12 Even without being cut, while they are still flowering, they wither faster than grass.
Whilst it is yet in its greenness [and] not cut down, it withereth before any [other] grass.
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 that forget God; and the profane man's hope shall perish,
14 Their confidence is like holding on to a flimsy spider's web.
Whose confidence shall be cut off, and his reliance 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 shall lean upon his house, and it shall not stand; he shall lay hold on it, but it shall 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 full of sap before the sun, and his sprout shooteth forth over his garden;
17 It twists its roots down through the stones, and holds on to rock.
His roots are entwined about the stoneheap; he seeth 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 destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him: I have not seen thee!
19 Its life is over, and others spring up from the earth to take its place.
Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the dust shall others grow.
20 Look, God doesn't reject someone who is innocent, and he doesn't support those who are guilty.
Behold, God will not cast off a perfect man, neither will he take evil-doers by the hand.
21 He can make you laugh with happiness again and shout for joy.
Whilst he would fill thy mouth with laughing and thy lips with shouting,
22 Those who hate you will be put to shame, and the place where the wicked live will be destroyed.”
They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked be no more.
