Job 8
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite spoke up and said,
Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, 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 will you speak these things? and how long shall the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?
3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
Does God pervert judgment? or does the Almighty pervert justice?
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, and he have cast them away for their transgression;
5 But if you pray to God and ask for his help,
If you would seek to God betimes, and 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 awake 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 should 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!
For inquire, I pray you, of the former age, and prepare yourself to the search 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 not they teach you, and 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 rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
12 Even without being cut, while they are still flowering, they wither faster than grass.
Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it wither before any other herb.
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 hypocrite’s hope shall perish:
14 Their confidence is like holding on to a flimsy spider's web.
Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be 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 on his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, 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 green before the sun, and his branch shoots forth in his garden.
17 It twists its roots down through the stones, and holds on to rock.
His roots are wrapped about the heap, and 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 destroy him from his place, then it shall 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, and out of the earth 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 away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
21 He can make you laugh with happiness again and shout for joy.
Till he fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing.
22 Those who hate you will be put to shame, and the place where the wicked live will be destroyed.”
They that hate you shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nothing.
