Ἰώβ 8
1 ὑπολαβὼν δὲ Βαλδαδ ὁ Σαυχίτης λέγει
Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2 μέχρι τίνος λαλήσεις ταῦτα πνεῦμα πολυρῆμον τοῦ στόματός σου
“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
3 μὴ ὁ κύριος ἀδικήσει κρίνων ἢ ὁ τὰ πάντα ποιήσας ταράξει τὸ δίκαιον
Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4 εἰ οἱ υἱοί σου ἥμαρτον ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ ἀπέστειλεν ἐν χειρὶ ἀνομίας αὐτῶν
When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.
5 σὺ δὲ ὄρθριζε πρὸς κύριον παντοκράτορα δεόμενος
But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,
6 εἰ καθαρὸς εἶ καὶ ἀληθινός δεήσεως ἐπακούσεταί σου ἀποκαταστήσει δέ σοι δίαιταν δικαιοσύνης
if you are pure and upright, even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf and restore your righteous estate.
7 ἔσται οὖν τὰ μὲν πρῶτά σου ὀλίγα τὰ δὲ ἔσχατά σου ἀμύθητα
Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish.
8 ἐπερώτησον γὰρ γενεὰν πρώτην ἐξιχνίασον δὲ κατὰ γένος πατέρων
Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.
9 χθιζοὶ γάρ ἐσμεν καὶ οὐκ οἴδαμεν σκιὰ γάρ ἐστιν ἡμῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ὁ βίος
For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.
10 ἦ οὐχ οὗτοί σε διδάξουσιν καὶ ἀναγγελοῦσιν καὶ ἐκ καρδίας ἐξάξουσιν ῥήματα
Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding?
11 μὴ θάλλει πάπυρος ἄνευ ὕδατος ἢ ὑψωθήσεται βούτομον ἄνευ πότου
Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?
12 ἔτι ὂν ἐπὶ ῥίζης καὶ οὐ μὴ θερισθῇ πρὸ τοῦ πιεῖν πᾶσα βοτάνη οὐχὶ ξηραίνεται
While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass.
13 οὕτως τοίνυν ἔσται τὰ ἔσχατα πάντων τῶν ἐπιλανθανομένων τοῦ κυρίου ἐλπὶς γὰρ ἀσεβοῦς ἀπολεῖται
Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
14 ἀοίκητος γὰρ αὐτοῦ ἔσται ὁ οἶκος ἀράχνη δὲ αὐτοῦ ἀποβήσεται ἡ σκηνή
His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.
15 ἐὰν ὑπερείσῃ τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ οὐ μὴ στῇ ἐπιλαβομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ οὐ μὴ ὑπομείνῃ
He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.
16 ὑγρὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὑπὸ ἡλίου καὶ ἐκ σαπρίας αὐτοῦ ὁ ῥάδαμνος αὐτοῦ ἐξελεύσεται
He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.
17 ἐπὶ συναγωγὴν λίθων κοιμᾶται ἐν δὲ μέσῳ χαλίκων ζήσεται
His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones.
18 ἐὰν καταπίῃ ὁ τόπος ψεύσεται αὐτόν οὐχ ἑόρακας τοιαῦτα
If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’
19 ὅτι καταστροφὴ ἀσεβοῦς τοιαύτη ἐκ δὲ γῆς ἄλλον ἀναβλαστήσει
Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.
20 ὁ γὰρ κύριος οὐ μὴ ἀποποιήσηται τὸν ἄκακον πᾶν δὲ δῶρον ἀσεβοῦς οὐ δέξεται
Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.
21 ἀληθινῶν δὲ στόμα ἐμπλήσει γέλωτος τὰ δὲ χείλη αὐτῶν ἐξομολογήσεως
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.
22 οἱ δὲ ἐχθροὶ αὐτῶν ἐνδύσονται αἰσχύνην δίαιτα δὲ ἀσεβοῦς οὐκ ἔσται
Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
