Job 8
1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
But Baldad the Suhite, responding, said:
2 How long wilt thou speak these [things]? and [how long shall] the words of thy mouth [be like] a strong wind?
How long will you speak this way, so that the words of your mouth are like a changeable wind?
3 Doth God pervert judgment; or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
Does God supplant judgment, or does the Almighty subvert that which is just?
4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he hath cast them away for their transgression;
And if now your children have sinned against him, and he has dismissed them into the power of their iniquity,
5 If thou wouldst seek to God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
even so, you should arise early to God, so as to beseech 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 approach with purity and honesty, he will quickly be attentive to you, and a peaceful life will repay your righteousness,
7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end would greatly increase.
so much so that, if your former things were small, your latter things would be multiplied greatly.
8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
For inquire of the earliest generation, and investigate diligently the history of the fathers,
9 (For we [are but of] yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth [are] a shadow: )
(of course, we are but of yesterday and are ignorant that our days on earth are like a shadow, )
10 Will they not teach thee, [and] tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
and they will teach you; they will speak with you and will offer you the eloquence of their hearts.
11 Can the rush grow without mire? can the flag grow without water?
Can the marsh plant live without moisture? Or can sedges grow without water?
12 Whilst it [is] yet in its greenness, [and] not cut down, it withereth before any [other] herb.
When it is still in flower, and has not been pulled up by hand, it withers before all other plants.
13 So [are] the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:
Just so are the ways of all who forget God, and the hope of the hypocrite will perish.
14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust [shall be] a spider's web.
His frenzy will not please him, and his faith will be like a spider’s web.
15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
He will lean on his house, and it will not stand; he will prop it up, but it will not rise.
16 He [is] green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
He seems to have moisture before the sun arrives; and at sunrise, his sprout shoots forth.
17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, [and] seeth the place of stones.
His roots will crowd together over a heap of stones, and among the stones he will remain.
18 If he shall destroy him from his place, then [it] shall deny him, [saying], I have not seen thee.
If someone is devoured right beside him, he will deny him and will say: “I do not know you.”
19 Behold, this [is] the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
For this is the benefit of his way, that others in turn may spring up from the earth.
20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect [man], neither will he help the evil doers:
God will not discard the simple, nor will he extend his hand to the spiteful,
21 Till he shall fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
even until your mouth is filled with laughter and your lips with rejoicing.
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to naught.
Those who hate you, will be clothed with confusion, and the tabernacle of the impious will not continue.
