Job 8

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

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

2 "How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

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

3 Does God pervert justice? Or does Shaddai pervert righteousness?

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

4 If your children have sinned against him, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.

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 If you want to seek God diligently, make your petition to Shaddai.

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

6 If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.

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 your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.

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 "Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.

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

9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are 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 they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of 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 "Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?

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 While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.

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

13 So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man 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 Whose confidence shall break apart, Whose trust is 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 He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.

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 He is green before the sun. His shoots go forth over his garden.

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

17 His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones.

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

18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, 'I have not seen you.'

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 Look, this is the joy of his way: out of the earth, others shall spring.

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

20 "Look, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.

: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 He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.

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

22 Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more."

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