Job 8
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,
Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 “How long will you say these things? How long will the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
How long will you speak these things? and how long shall the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?
3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
Does God pervert judgment? or does the Almighty pervert justice?
4 Your children have sinned against him; we know this, for he gave them into the hand of their sins.
If your children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;
5 But suppose you diligently sought God and presented your request to the Almighty.
If you would seek to God betimes, and make your supplication to the Almighty;
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 were pure and upright; surely now he would awake for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
7 Even though your beginning was small, still your final condition would be much greater.
Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end should greatly increase.
8 Please ask the former generations, and give your attention to what our ancestors learned.
For inquire, I pray you, of the former age, and prepare yourself to the search of their fathers:
9 (We were only born yesterday and know nothing because our days on earth are a shadow).
(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow: )
10 Will they not teach you and tell you? Will they not speak words from their hearts?
Shall not they teach you, and tell you, and utter words out of their heart?
11 Can papyrus grow without a marsh? Can reeds grow without water?
Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
12 While they are still green and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.
Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it wither before any other herb.
13 So also are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish.
So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:
14 His confidence will break apart, and his trust is as weak as a spider's web.
Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be 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 shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
16 Under the sun he is green, and his shoots go out over his entire garden.
He is green before the sun, and his branch shoots forth in his garden.
17 His roots are wrapped about the heaps of stone; they look for good places among the rocks.
His roots are wrapped about the heap, and sees the place of 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 destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen 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.
Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
20 See, God will not cast away an innocent man; neither will he take the hand of evildoers.
Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.
Till he fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing.
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame; the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
They that hate you shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nothing.
