Job 8

1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

Then Bildad, from [the] Shuah [area], spoke to Job. He said,

2 How long wilt thou speak these [things]? and [how long shall] the words of thy mouth [be like] a strong wind?

“Job, how much longer will you talk like this? What you say is [only] hot air.

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

Almighty God certainly never does [RHQ] what is unfair/unjust. He always does [LIT] what is right/fair.

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

So, it is evident that your children have sinned against him, therefore he has caused them to be punished for evil things that they have done.

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

But, if you will [now] earnestly request [DOU] Almighty [God] to help you,

6 If thou [wert] pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

and if you are pure and honest/righteous, he will surely do something good for you and reward you by giving your family back to you and enabling you to prosper.

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

And even though you [think that you] were not very prosperous/wealthy before, during the last part of your life you will become very wealthy.

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

“I request you to think about what happened long ago and consider what our ancestors found out.

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

[It seems as though] we were born only yesterday and we know very little [HYP]; our time here on the earth [disappears quickly, like] a shadow [MET].

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

So, why do you not allow your ancestors to teach you and tell you something? Allow them to tell you from what they learned!

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

Papyrus can certainly not [RHQ] grow in places where there is no marsh/swamp; reeds certainly cannot [RHQ] flourish/grow where there is no water.

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

[If they do not have enough water], while they are still blossoming, they wither more quickly than other plants wither.

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

Those who do not pay attention to what God says are like those [reeds]; godless people stop confidently expecting [that good things will happen to them].

14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust [shall be] a spider's web.

The things they confidently expect to happen do not happen; things they trust [will help them] are [as fragile as] [MET] 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.

If they lean against a house (OR, trust in their wealth; OR, lean on a spider web), it does not (endure/protect them) [LIT]; they cling to things [to be protected], but those things do not remain firm.

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

Godless people [are like plants] [MET] that are watered before the sun rises; their shoots spread all over the gardens.

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

The roots of those plants twist around piles of stones and cling tightly to rocks.

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

But if those plants are pulled out, [it is as though] the place where they were planted says ‘They were never here!’ [And that is what happens to wicked people who do not heed what God says].

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

Truly, evil people [MET] are not joyful [IRO] for a long time; other people come and take their places.

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

:So, [I tell you, Job], God will not reject you if you are truly godly/righteous, but he does not help [IDM] evil people.

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

He will enable you [MTY] to continually laugh and to always shout [joyfully].

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

But those who hate you will be very ashamed, and the homes of wicked people will disappear.”