Job 8

¹Then Bildad the Shuhite made answer and said,

²How long will you say these things, and how long will the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?

³Does God give wrong decisions? or is the Ruler of all not upright in his judging?

⁴If your children have done evil against him, then their punishment is from his hand.

⁵If you will make search for God with care, and put your request before the Ruler of all;

⁶If you are clean and upright; then he will certainly be moved to take up your cause, and will make clear your righteousness by building up your house again.

⁷And though your start was small, your end will be very great.

⁸Put the question now to the past generations, and give attention to what has been searched out by their fathers:

⁹(For we are but of yesterday, and have no knowledge, because our days on earth are gone like a shade:)

¹⁰Will they not give you teaching, and say words of wisdom to you?

¹¹Will the river-plant come up in its pride without wet earth? will the grass get tall without water?

¹²When it is still green, without being cut down, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant.

¹³So is the end of all who do not keep God in mind; and the hope of the evil-doer comes to nothing:

¹⁴Whose support is cut off, and whose hope is no stronger than a spider's thread.

¹⁵He is looking to his family for support, but it is not there; he puts his hope in it, but it comes to nothing.

¹⁶He is full of strength before the sun, and his branches go out over his garden.

¹⁷His roots are twisted round the stones, forcing their way in between them.

¹⁸If he is taken away from his place, then it will say, I have not seen you.

¹⁹Such is the joy of his way, and out of the dust another comes up to take his place.

²⁰Truly, God will not give up him who is without sin, and will not take evil-doers by the hand.

²¹The time will come when your mouth will be full of laughing, and cries of joy will come from your lips.

²²Your haters will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the sinner will not be seen again.

Job 8

¹Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

²"How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

³Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?

⁴If your children have sinned against him, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.

⁵If you want to seek God diligently, make your supplication to the Almighty.

⁶If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.

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

⁸"Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.

⁹(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.)

¹⁰Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?

¹¹"Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?

¹²While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.

¹³So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish,

¹⁴Whose confidence shall break apart, Whose trust is a spider's web.

¹⁵He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.

¹⁶He is green before the sun. His shoots go forth over his garden.

¹⁷His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones.

¹⁸If he is destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, 'I have not seen you.'

¹⁹Behold, this is the joy of his way: out of the earth, others shall spring.

²⁰"Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.

²¹He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.

²²Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more."