Job 8

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

2 “How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.

3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?

4 When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.

5 But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,

6 if you are pure and upright, even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf and restore your righteous estate.

7 Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish.

8 Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.

9 For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.

10 Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding?

11 Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?

12 While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up more quickly than grass.

13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.

14 His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.

15 He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.

16 He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.

17 His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones.

18 If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’

19 Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.

20 Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.

21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.

22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”

1 ¶ Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

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

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

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

5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust [shall be] 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 Then answered Bildad of Suah, and said:

2 How long wilt thou speak these things, and let the speech of thy mouth be so proud?

3 Thinkest thou that God doth judge unjustly, or that the Almighty doth pervert justice?

4 If thy sons have sinned before him, he hath cast them off for their iniquity.

5 But if thou turn in time unto God, and beseech the Almighty,

6 And if thou be pure and upright, he will awake unto thee, and will set up the tabernacle again for thy righteousness' sake;

7 And what at first thou hadst little, hereafter thou shalt almost increase.

8 For inquire of the former generations, and take upon thee to inquire of their fathers.

9 (For we are of old, and know nothing; our life is a shadow upon the earth.)

10 They shall teach thee, and tell thee, and bring forth their speech out of their heart.

11 Can the reed grow up where it is not wet, or grass grow without water?

12 Or else, if it be yet in the flower, before it be cut down, it withereth before they make hay.

13 So it is with all those who forget God, and the hope of the hypocrites will be lost.

14 For his confidence is gone, and his hope is a cobweb.

15 He shall rely upon his house, and yet shall not stand: he shall keep it, and yet shall not stand.

16 It is fruitful before the sun: and the branches of his garden grow up.

17 His seed is thick by the springs, and his house is built upon the stones.

18 But if he swallow him up out of his place, he shall stand against him, as if he knew him not.

19 Behold, this is the joy of his being; and others shall grow out of the dust.

20 Therefore, behold, God does not reject the righteous, nor does He uphold the hand of the wicked,

21 Until thy mouth be full of laughter, and thy lips of rejoicing.

22 But they that hate thee shall be put to shame, and the tabernacle of the wicked shall not stand.