Job 8
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,
Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
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? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
Does God pervert justice? Or does Shaddai pervert righteousness?
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, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.
5 But suppose you diligently sought God and presented your request to the Almighty.
If you want to seek God diligently, make your petition to Shaddai.
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 awaken 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 would greatly increase.
8 Please ask the former generations, and give your attention to what our ancestors learned.
"Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning 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 they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?
11 Can papyrus grow without a marsh? Can reeds grow without water?
"Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?
12 While they are still green and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.
While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.
13 So also are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish.
So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish,
14 His confidence will break apart, and his trust is as weak as a spider's web.
Whose confidence shall break apart, Whose trust is 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 cling to it, 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. His shoots go forth over his garden.
17 His roots are wrapped about the heaps of stone; they look for good places among the rocks.
His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He 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 is destroyed 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.
Look, this is the joy of his way: out of the earth, others shall spring.
20 See, God will not cast away an innocent man; neither will he take the hand of evildoers.
"Look, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.
He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame; the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more."
