Job — Chapter 8

1Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

8For 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:)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

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

3Doth God pervert justice? Or doth the Almighty pervert righteousness?

4If thy children have sinned against him, And he hath delivered them into the hand of their transgression;

5If thou wouldest seek diligently unto God, And make thy supplication to the Almighty;

6If thou wert pure and upright: Surely now he would awake for thee, And make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

7And though thy beginning was small, Yet thy latter end would greatly increase.

8For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, And apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out:

9(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days upon earth are a shadow);

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

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

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

13So are the paths of all that forget God; And the hope of the godless man shall perish:

14Whose confidence shall break in sunder, And whose trust is a spider`s web.

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

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

17His roots are wrapped about the [stone] -heap, He beholdeth the place of stones.

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

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

20Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers.

21He will yet fill thy mouth with laughter, And thy lips with shouting.

22They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; And the tent of the wicked shall be no more.

1Then Bildad the Shuhite spoke up and said:

2“How long will you speak these things, seeing that the words of your mouth are like a great wind?

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

4If your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.

5But if you will look to God and make your supplication to the Almighty,

6if you become pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself for you and will restore your righteous home.

7Your beginning will seem so small, since your future will flourish.

8“For inquire now of the former generation, and pay attention to the findings of their ancestors;

9For we were born yesterday and do not have knowledge, since our days on earth are but a shadow.

10Will they not instruct you and speak to you, and bring forth words from their understanding?

11Can the papyrus plant grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish without water?

12While they are still beginning to flower and not ripe for cutting, they can wither away faster than any grass.

13Such is the destiny of all who forget God; the hope of the godless perishes,

14whose trust is in something futile, whose security is a spider’s web.

15He leans against his house, but it does not hold up; he takes hold of it, but it does not stand.

16He is a well-watered plant in the sun; its shoots spread over its garden.

17It wraps its roots around a heap of stones, and it looks for a place among stones.

18If he is uprooted from his place, then that place will disown him, saying, ‘I have never seen you!’

19Indeed, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth others spring up.

20“Surely, God does not reject a blameless man, nor does he grasp the hand of the evildoers.

21He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with gladness.

22Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”

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 out along 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.”