Print Page Options

Bildad the Shuchi spoke next:

“How long will you go on talking like this?
What you are saying is raging wind!
Does God distort judgment?
Does Shaddai pervert justice?
If your children sinned against him,
he left them to be victims of their own offense.

“If you will earnestly seek God
and plead for Shaddai’s favor,
if you are pure and upright;
then he will rouse himself for you
and fulfill your needs.
Then, although your beginnings were small,
your future will be very great indeed.

“Ask the older generation,
and consider what their ancestors found out;
for we who were born yesterday know nothing,
our days on earth are but a shadow.
10 They will teach you, they will tell you,
they will say what is in their hearts:
11 ‘Can papyrus grow except in a marsh?
Can swamp grass flourish without water?
12 While still green, before being cut down,
it dries up faster than any other plant.
13 Such are the paths of all who forget God;
the hope of a hypocrite will perish —
14 his confidence is mere gossamer,
his trust a spider’s web.
15 He can lean on his house, but it won’t stand;
he can hold on to it, but it won’t last;
16 [for its destruction will come] like the lush growth
of a plant in the sun,
its shoots may spread out all over its garden,
17 but meanwhile its roots cause the stone house
to collapse, as it seizes hold of the rocks;
18 someone who tears it away from its place
denies he has ever seen it.
19 Yes, this is the “joy” of the way [of the godless],
and out of the dust will spring up others [like him].’

20 “Look, God will not reject a blameless man;
nor will he uphold wrongdoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
and your lips with shouts of joy.
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,
and the tent of the wicked will cease to exist.”

Discurso de Bildad

Entonces respondió Bildad suhita, y dijo:

¿Hasta cuándo hablarás estas cosas,
y serán viento impetuoso las palabras de tu boca(A)?
¿Acaso tuerce Dios la justicia
o tuerce el Todopoderoso[a] lo que es justo(B)?
Si tus hijos pecaron contra Él,
entonces Él los entregó al poder[b] de su transgresión(C).
Si tú buscaras a Dios
e imploraras la misericordia del Todopoderoso[c](D),
si fueras puro y recto,
ciertamente Él se despertaría ahora en tu favor(E)
y restauraría tu justa condición[d](F).
Aunque tu principio haya sido insignificante,
con todo, tu final aumentará sobremanera(G).

Pregunta, te ruego, a las generaciones pasadas,
y considera las cosas escudriñadas por sus padres(H).
Porque nosotros somos de ayer y nada sabemos,
pues nuestros días sobre la tierra son como una sombra(I).
10 ¿No te instruirán ellos y te hablarán,
y de sus corazones sacarán palabras?

11 ¿Puede crecer el papiro sin cenagal?
¿Puede el junco crecer sin agua?
12 Estando aún verde y sin cortar,
con todo, se seca antes que cualquier otra planta[e].
13 Así son las sendas de todos los que se olvidan de Dios(J),
y la esperanza del impío perecerá(K),
14 porque es frágil su confianza,
y una tela[f] de araña(L) su seguridad.
15 Confía[g] en su casa, pero esta no se sostiene;
se aferra a ella, pero esta no perdura(M).
16 Crece con vigor[h] delante del sol(N),
y sus renuevos brotan sobre su jardín(O).
17 Sus raíces se entrelazan sobre un montón de rocas;
vive en[i] una casa de piedras.
18 Si se le arranca[j] de su lugar,
este le negará, diciendo: «Nunca te vi(P)».
19 He aquí, este es el gozo(Q) de su camino[k];
y del polvo brotarán otros.
20 He aquí, Dios no rechaza al íntegro[l](R),
ni sostiene a[m] los malhechores(S).
21 Aún ha de llenar de risa tu boca,
y tus labios de gritos de júbilo(T).
22 Los que te odian serán cubiertos de vergüenza(U),
y la tienda de los impíos no existirá más(V).

Footnotes

  1. Job 8:3 Heb., Shaddai
  2. Job 8:4 Lit., en mano
  3. Job 8:5 Heb., Shaddai
  4. Job 8:6 Lit., justo lugar
  5. Job 8:12 Lit., hierba
  6. Job 8:14 Lit., casa
  7. Job 8:15 Lit., Se apoya
  8. Job 8:16 Lit., Es exuberante
  9. Job 8:17 Lit., ve
  10. Job 8:18 Lit., es tragado
  11. Job 8:19 I.e., del camino de Dios
  12. Job 8:20 O, perfecto
  13. Job 8:20 Lit., ni fortalece la mano de

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: 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

Bildad

Then Bildad the Shuhite(A) replied:

“How long will you say such things?(B)
    Your words are a blustering wind.(C)
Does God pervert justice?(D)
    Does the Almighty pervert what is right?(E)
When your children sinned against him,
    he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.(F)
But if you will seek God earnestly
    and plead(G) with the Almighty,(H)
if you are pure and upright,
    even now he will rouse himself on your behalf(I)
    and restore you to your prosperous state.(J)
Your beginnings will seem humble,
    so prosperous(K) will your future be.(L)

“Ask the former generation(M)
    and find out what their ancestors learned,
for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,(N)
    and our days on earth are but a shadow.(O)
10 Will they not instruct(P) you and tell you?
    Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?(Q)
11 Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?(R)
    Can reeds(S) thrive without water?
12 While still growing and uncut,
    they wither more quickly than grass.(T)
13 Such is the destiny(U) of all who forget God;(V)
    so perishes the hope of the godless.(W)
14 What they trust in is fragile[a];
    what they rely on is a spider’s web.(X)
15 They lean on the web,(Y) but it gives way;
    they cling to it, but it does not hold.(Z)
16 They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine,
    spreading its shoots(AA) over the garden;(AB)
17 it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks
    and looks for a place among the stones.
18 But when it is torn from its spot,
    that place disowns(AC) it and says, ‘I never saw you.’(AD)
19 Surely its life withers(AE) away,
    and[b] from the soil other plants grow.(AF)

20 “Surely God does not reject one who is blameless(AG)
    or strengthen the hands of evildoers.(AH)
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter(AI)
    and your lips with shouts of joy.(AJ)
22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame,(AK)
    and the tents(AL) of the wicked will be no more.”(AM)

Footnotes

  1. Job 8:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  2. Job 8:19 Or Surely all the joy it has / is that