Job 8

1 Then Baldad the Sauchite answered, and said,

Then Bildad, from [the] Shuah [area], spoke to Job. He said,

2 How long will you speak these things, [how long shall] the breath of your mouth [be] abundant in words?

“Job, how much longer will you talk like this? What you say is [only] hot air.

3 Will the Lord be unjust when he judges; or will he that has made all things pervert justice?

Almighty God certainly never does [RHQ] what is unfair/unjust. He always does [LIT] what is right/fair.

4 If your sons have sinned before him, he has cast them away because of their transgression.

So, it is evident that your children have sinned against him, therefore he has caused them to be punished for evil things that they have done.

5 But be you early in prayer to the Lord Almighty.

But, if you will [now] earnestly request [DOU] Almighty [God] to help you,

6 If you are pure and true, he will listen to your supplication, and will restore to you the habitation of righteousness.

and if you are pure and honest/righteous, he will surely do something good for you and reward you by giving your family back to you and enabling you to prosper.

7 Though then your beginning should be small, yet your end should be unspeakably great.

And even though you [think that you] were not very prosperous/wealthy before, during the last part of your life you will become very wealthy.

8 For ask of the former generation, and search diligently among the race of [our] fathers:

“I request you to think about what happened long ago and consider what our ancestors found out.

9 (for we are of yesterday, and know nothing; for our life upon the earth is a shadow: )

[It seems as though] we were born only yesterday and we know very little [HYP]; our time here on the earth [disappears quickly, like] a shadow [MET].

10 shall not these teach you, and report [to you], and bring out words from [their] heart?

So, why do you not allow your ancestors to teach you and tell you something? Allow them to tell you from what they learned!

11 Does the rush flourish without water, or shall the flag grow up without moisture?

Papyrus can certainly not [RHQ] grow in places where there is no marsh/swamp; reeds certainly cannot [RHQ] flourish/grow where there is no water.

12 When it is yet on the root, and [though] it has not been cut down, does not any herb wither before it has received moisture?

[If they do not have enough water], while they are still blossoming, they wither more quickly than other plants wither.

13 Thus then shall be the end of all that forget the Lord: for the hope of the ungodly shall perish.

Those who do not pay attention to what God says are like those [reeds]; godless people stop confidently expecting [that good things will happen to them].

14 For his house shall be without inhabitants, and his tent shall prove a spider's web.

The things they confidently expect to happen do not happen; things they trust [will help them] are [as fragile as] [MET] a spider’s web.

15 If he should prop up his house, it shall not stand: and when he has taken hold of it, it shall not remain.

If they lean against a house (OR, trust in their wealth; OR, lean on a spider web), it does not (endure/protect them) [LIT]; they cling to things [to be protected], but those things do not remain firm.

16 For it is moist under the sun, and his branch shall come forth out of his dung-heap.

Godless people [are like plants] [MET] that are watered before the sun rises; their shoots spread all over the gardens.

17 He lies down upon a gathering of stones, and shall live in the mist of flints.

The roots of those plants twist around piles of stones and cling tightly to rocks.

18 If [God] should destroy [him], his place shall deny him. Hast you not seen such things,

But if those plants are pulled out, [it is as though] the place where they were planted says ‘They were never here!’ [And that is what happens to wicked people who do not heed what God says].

19 that such is the overthrow of the ungodly? and out of the earth another shall grow.

Truly, evil people [MET] are not joyful [IRO] for a long time; other people come and take their places.

20 For the Lord will by no means reject the harmless man; but he will not receive any gift of the ungodly.

:So, [I tell you, Job], God will not reject you if you are truly godly/righteous, but he does not help [IDM] evil people.

21 But he will fill with laughter the mouth of the sincere, and their lips with thanksgiving.

He will enable you [MTY] to continually laugh and to always shout [joyfully].

22 But their adversaries shall clothe themselves with shame; and the habitation of the ungodly shall perish.

But those who hate you will be very ashamed, and the homes of wicked people will disappear.”