Job 8

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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