Job 8

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 If you want to seek God diligently, make your 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 you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.

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

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

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

8 “Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning 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 on earth are a shadow.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 who forget God. The hope of the godless man will perish,

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

14 whose confidence will break apart, whose trust is a spider’s web.

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

15 He will lean on his house, but it will not stand. He will cling to it, but it will 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. His shoots go out along his garden.

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

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

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

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

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. Out of the earth, others will spring.

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

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

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

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

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

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