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Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

How long wilt thou speak these things?
and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
Doth God pervert judgment?
or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
If thy children have sinned against him,
and he have cast them away for their transgression;
if thou wouldest seek unto God betimes,
and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
if thou wert pure and upright;
surely now he would awake for thee,
and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
Though thy beginning was small,
yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

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

Bildad Says God Rewards the Good

Then Bildad the Shuhite responded,

“How long will you say these things,
And the (A)words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
Does (B)God pervert justice?
Or does [a]the Almighty pervert what is right?
(C)If your sons sinned against Him,
Then He turned them over to the [b]power of their wrongdoing.
If you will (D)search for God
And implore the compassion of [c]the Almighty,
If you are pure and upright,
Surely now (E)He will stir Himself for you
And restore your righteous [d](F)estate.
Though your beginning was insignificant,
Yet your (G)end will increase greatly.

“Please (H)inquire of past generations,
And consider the things searched out by their fathers.
For we are only of yesterday and know nothing,
Because (I)our days on earth are as a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you,
And bring forth words from their minds?

11 “Can papyrus grow tall without a marsh?
Can the rushes grow without water?
12 While it is still green and not cut down,
Yet it withers before any other [e]plant.
13 So are the paths of (J)all who forget God;
And the (K)hope of the godless will perish,
14 His confidence is fragile,
And his trust is a (L)spider’s [f]web.
15 He depends on his (M)house, but it does not stand;
He holds on to it, but it does not endure.
16 He (N)flourishes before the sun,
And his (O)shoots spread out over his garden.
17 His roots wrap around a rock pile,
He [g]grasps a house of stones.
18 If he is [h]removed from (P)his place,
Then it will deny him, saying, ‘(Q)I never saw you.’
19 Behold, (R)this is the joy of His way;
And out of the dust others will spring.
20 Behold, (S)God will not reject a person of integrity,
Nor (T)will He [i]help evildoers.
21 He will yet fill (U)your mouth with laughter,
And your lips with joyful shouting.
22 Those who hate you will be (V)clothed with shame,
And the (W)tent of the wicked will no longer exist.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 8:3 Heb Shaddai
  2. Job 8:4 Lit hand
  3. Job 8:5 Heb Shaddai
  4. Job 8:6 Lit place
  5. Job 8:12 Lit reed
  6. Job 8:14 Lit house
  7. Job 8:17 Heb sees
  8. Job 8:18 Lit swallowed up
  9. Job 8:20 Lit strengthen the hand of

Bildad: Job Should Repent

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

“How long will you speak these things,
And the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?
(A)Does God subvert judgment?
Or does the Almighty pervert justice?
If (B)your sons have sinned against Him,
He has cast them away [a]for their transgression.
(C)If you would earnestly seek God
And make your supplication to the Almighty,
If you were pure and upright,
Surely now He would [b]awake for you,
And prosper your rightful dwelling place.
Though your beginning was small,
Yet your latter end would (D)increase abundantly.

“For(E) inquire, please, of the former age,
And consider the things discovered by their fathers;
For (F)we were born yesterday, and know [c]nothing,
Because our days on earth are a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you,
And utter words from their heart?

11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can the reeds flourish without water?
12 (G)While it is yet green and not cut down,
It withers before any other plant.
13 So are the paths of all who (H)forget God;
And the hope of the (I)hypocrite shall perish,
14 Whose confidence shall be cut off,
And whose trust is [d]a spider’s web.
15 (J)He leans on his house, but it does not stand.
He holds it fast, but it does not endure.
16 He grows green in the sun,
And his branches spread out in his garden.
17 His roots wrap around the rock heap,
And look for a place in the stones.
18 (K)If he is destroyed from his place,
Then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’

19 “Behold, this is the joy of His way,
And (L)out of the earth others will grow.
20 Behold, (M)God will not [e]cast away the blameless,
Nor will He uphold the evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughing,
And your lips with [f]rejoicing.
22 Those who hate you will be (N)clothed with shame,
And the dwelling place of the wicked [g]will come to nothing.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 8:4 Lit. into the hand of their transgression
  2. Job 8:6 arise
  3. Job 8:9 Lit. not
  4. Job 8:14 Lit. a spider’s house
  5. Job 8:20 reject
  6. Job 8:21 Lit. shouts of joy
  7. Job 8:22 Lit. will not be