Job 8
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,
Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2 “How long will you say these things? How long will the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4 Your children have sinned against him; we know this, for he gave them into the hand of their sins.
When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.
5 But suppose you diligently sought God and presented your request to the Almighty.
But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,
6 If you are pure and upright, then he would surely stir himself on your behalf and restore you to your rightful place.
if you are pure and upright, even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf and restore your righteous estate.
7 Even though your beginning was small, still your final condition would be much greater.
Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish.
8 Please ask the former generations, and give your attention to what our ancestors learned.
Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.
9 (We were only born yesterday and know nothing because our days on earth are a shadow).
For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you? Will they not speak words from their hearts?
Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding?
11 Can papyrus grow without a marsh? Can reeds grow without water?
Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?
12 While they are still green and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.
While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass.
13 So also are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish.
Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
14 His confidence will break apart, and his trust is as weak as a spider's web.
His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.
15 He leans on his house, but it will not support him; he takes hold of it, but it does not stand.
He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.
16 Under the sun he is green, and his shoots go out over his entire garden.
He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.
17 His roots are wrapped about the heaps of stone; they look for good places among the rocks.
His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones.
18 But if this person is destroyed out of his place, then that place will deny him and say, 'I never saw you.'
If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’
19 See, this is the “joy” of such a person's behavior; other plants will sprout out of the same soil in his place.
Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.
20 See, God will not cast away an innocent man; neither will he take the hand of evildoers.
Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame; the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
