Job 8
1 Then Bildad, from [the] Shuah [area], spoke to Job. He said,
Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2 “Job, how much longer will you talk like this? What you say is [only] hot air.
“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
3 Almighty God certainly never does [RHQ] what is unfair/unjust. He always does [LIT] what is right/fair.
Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4 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.
When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.
5 But, if you will [now] earnestly request [DOU] Almighty [God] to help you,
But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,
6 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.
if you are pure and upright, even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf and restore your righteous estate.
7 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.
Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish.
8 “I request you to think about what happened long ago and consider what our ancestors found out.
Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.
9 [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].
For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.
10 So, why do you not allow your ancestors to teach you and tell you something? Allow them to tell you from what they learned!
Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding?
11 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.
Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?
12 [If they do not have enough water], while they are still blossoming, they wither more quickly than other plants wither.
While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass.
13 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].
Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
14 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.
His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.
15 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.
He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.
16 Godless people [are like plants] [MET] that are watered before the sun rises; their shoots spread all over the gardens.
He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.
17 The roots of those plants twist around piles of stones and cling tightly to rocks.
His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones.
18 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].
If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’
19 Truly, evil people [MET] are not joyful [IRO] for a long time; other people come and take their places.
Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.
20 :So, [I tell you, Job], God will not reject you if you are truly godly/righteous, but he does not help [IDM] evil people.
Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.
21 He will enable you [MTY] to continually laugh and to always shout [joyfully].
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.
22 But those who hate you will be very ashamed, and the homes of wicked people will disappear.”
Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
