Job 8

1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

Then answered Bildad the Shuchite, and 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 wilt thou speak these things? and [let] like a mighty wind be the words of thy mouth?

3 Doth God pervert judgment; or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

Should God pervert justice? or should the Almighty pervert righteousness?

4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he hath cast them away for their transgression;

If thy children have sinned against him, then did he send them off through the means of their transgression.

5 If thou wouldst seek to God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

If thou wilt earnestly seek for God, and make thy supplication to 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 thou become pure and upright: surely then will he watch over thee, and restore thy righteous habitation.

7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end would greatly increase.

And thy beginning will have been small; because thy latter end will grow up greatly.

8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:

For ask, I pray thee, of an earlier generation, and prepare thyself to [stand by] the research of their fathers; —

9 (For we [are but of] yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth [are] a shadow: )

For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because a [mere] shadow are our days upon earth; —

10 Will they not teach thee, [and] tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

Behold, these will truly teach thee, they will speak unto thee, and out of their very heart will they bring forth words:

11 Can the rush grow without mire? can the flag grow without water?

Can the bulrush shoot upward without mire? can the meadow-grass grow up without water?

12 Whilst it [is] yet in its greenness, [and] not cut down, it withereth before any [other] herb.

It is yet in its greenness, not yet cut down, when it withereth before any other grass.

13 So [are] the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

So are the paths of all that 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.

[It is he] whose trust will be cut off, and but a spider's web is that in which he confideth.

15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.

He leaneth against his house, but it shall not stand: he layeth fast hold on it, but it shall not remain erect.

16 He [is] green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.

He is in full vigor before the sun, and over his garden his shoots go forth.

17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, [and] seeth the place of stones.

His roots are twisted about a stoneheap, he selecteth [for himself] a place of stones.

18 If he shall destroy him from his place, then [it] shall deny him, [saying], I have not seen thee.

But when men destroy him from his place, then will it deny him, saying, I have never seen thee.

19 Behold, this [is] the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the [same] dust others will grow up.

20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect [man], neither will he help the evil doers:

Behold, God will not reject a perfect man, and will not hold fast by their hand the evil-doers:

21 Till he shall fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.

Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with joyful shouting.

22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to naught.

They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the tent of the wicked shall be no more.