Bildad Speaks: Job Should Repent

Then (A)Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

“How long will you say these things,
    and the words of your mouth be a (B)great wind?
(C)Does God pervert justice?
    Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
If your (D)children have sinned against him,
    he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.
If you will seek God
    and (E)plead with the Almighty for mercy,
if you are pure and upright,
    surely then he will (F)rouse himself for you
    and (G)restore your rightful habitation.
And though your beginning was small,
    (H)your latter days will be very great.

“For (I)inquire, please, of bygone ages,
    and consider what (J)the fathers have searched out.
For we are but of yesterday and know nothing,
    for our days on earth are (K)a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you
    and utter words out of their understanding?

11 “Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh?
    Can reeds flourish where there is no water?
12 While yet in flower and not cut down,
    they (L)wither before any other plant.
13 Such are the paths of all who (M)forget God;
    (N)the hope of (O)the godless shall perish.
14 His confidence is severed,
    and his trust is (P)a spider's web.[a]
15 He leans against his (Q)house, but it does not stand;
    he lays hold of it, but it does not endure.
16 He is a lush plant before the sun,
    and his (R)shoots spread over his garden.
17 His roots entwine the stone heap;
    he looks upon a house of stones.
18 If he is destroyed from his (S)place,
    then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have never (T)seen you.’
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way,
    and out of (U)the soil others will spring.

20 “Behold, God will not reject a blameless man,
    nor take the hand of evildoers.
21 He will yet (V)fill your mouth with laughter,
    and your lips with shouting.
22 Those who hate you will be (W)clothed with shame,
    and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 8:14 Hebrew house

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

Defensa de la justicia

Bildad de Súaj respondió así:

¿Hasta cuándo hablarás de ese modo,
con el viento impetuoso de tus palabras?
¿Puede Dios trastocar el derecho,
pervertir la justicia el Todopoderoso?
Si tus hijos pecaron contra él,
ya los hizo cargar con su delito.
Mas si buscas cuanto antes a Dios,
si diriges tu súplica al Todopoderoso,
si eres honrado e intachable,
entonces se ocupará de ti,
te devolverá tu legítima heredad.
Tu pasado será insignificante
comparado con tu glorioso futuro.
Ve y pregunta a pasadas generaciones,
seguras en la experiencia de sus mayores.
Ayer nacimos, nada sabemos;
nuestra vida en este mundo es una sombra.
10 Pero ellos te enseñarán, te informarán
con máximas que brotan de su reflexión.
11 ¿Brota el papiro fuera de la marisma
o prosperan los juncos si falta el agua?
12 Todavía verdes, sin ser segados,
pueden agostarse antes que otra hierba.
13 Así acaba quien se olvida de Dios,
la esperanza del malvado sucumbe;
14 su confianza no es más que un hilo;
su seguridad, una tela de araña;
15 si se apoya en ella, no lo aguanta;
si se aferra a ella, no lo sostiene.
16 Como planta lozana a pleno sol,
sus tallos brotaban por el jardín;
17 sus raíces escalaban el muro,
se adherían firmes a las tapias.
18 Pero si es arrancada de su sitio,
este la niega: “Nunca te he visto”.
19 Así acabará su existencia,
otros brotarán en su lugar.
20 Pero Dios no rechaza al honrado,
ni tiende la mano al malvado.
21 Llenará de nuevo tu boca de risas,
tus labios gritarán jubilosos.
22 Tus enemigos quedarán avergonzados,
la tienda del malvado dejará de existir.