Job 8
1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,
2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and [how long] shall the words of thy mouth be [like] a mighty wind?
“How long will you say these things? How long will the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
3 Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have delivered them into the hand of their transgression:
Your children have sinned against him; we know this, for he gave them into the hand of their sins.
5 If thou wouldest seek diligently unto God, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
But suppose you diligently sought God and presented your request to the Almighty.
6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
If you are pure and upright, then he would surely stir himself on your behalf and restore you to your rightful place.
7 And though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
Even though your beginning was small, still your final condition would be much greater.
8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out:
Please ask the former generations, and give your attention to what our ancestors learned.
9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow: )
(We were only born yesterday and know nothing because our days on earth are a shadow).
10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
Will they not teach you and tell you? Will they not speak words from their hearts?
11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
Can papyrus grow without a marsh? Can reeds grow without water?
12 Whilst it is yet in its greenness, [and] not cut down, it withereth before any [other] herb.
While they are still green and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.
13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hope of the godless man shall perish:
So also are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish.
14 Whose confidence shall break in sunder, and whose trust is a spider’s web.
His confidence will break apart, and his trust is as weak as a spider's web.
15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold fast thereby, but it shall not endure.
He leans on his house, but it will not support him; he takes hold of it, but it does not stand.
16 He is green before the sun, and his shoots go forth over his garden.
Under the sun he is green, and his shoots go out over his entire garden.
17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, he beholdeth the place of stones.
His roots are wrapped about the heaps of stone; they look for good places among the rocks.
18 If he be destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him, [saying], I have not seen thee.
But if this person is destroyed out of his place, then that place will deny him and say, 'I never saw you.'
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others spring.
See, this is the “joy” of such a person's behavior; other plants will sprout out of the same soil in his place.
20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he uphold the evil-doers.
See, God will not cast away an innocent man; neither will he take the hand of evildoers.
21 He will yet fill thy mouth with laughter, and thy lips with shouting.
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the tent of the wicked shall be no more.
Those who hate you will be clothed with shame; the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
