Job 8

1 But Baldad the Suhite, responding, said:

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

2 How long will you speak this way, so that the words of your mouth are like a changeable wind?

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

3 Does God supplant judgment, or does the Almighty subvert that which is just?

Does God pervert justice? Or does Shaddai pervert righteousness?

4 And if now your children have sinned against him, and he has dismissed them into the power of their iniquity,

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

5 even so, you should arise early to God, so as to beseech the Almighty.

If you want to seek God diligently, make your petition to Shaddai.

6 If you approach with purity and honesty, he will quickly be attentive to you, and a peaceful life will repay your righteousness,

If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.

7 so much so that, if your former things were small, your latter things would be multiplied greatly.

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

8 For inquire of the earliest generation, and investigate diligently the history of the fathers,

"Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.

9 (of course, we are but of yesterday and are ignorant that our days on earth are like a shadow, )

(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.)

10 and they will teach you; they will speak with you and will offer you the eloquence of their hearts.

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

11 Can the marsh plant live without moisture? Or can sedges grow without water?

"Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?

12 When it is still in flower, and has not been pulled up by hand, it withers before all other plants.

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

13 Just so are the ways of all who forget God, and the hope of the hypocrite will perish.

So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish,

14 His frenzy will not please him, and his faith will be like a spider’s web.

Whose confidence shall break apart, Whose trust is a spider's web.

15 He will lean on his house, and it will not stand; he will prop it up, but it will not rise.

He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.

16 He seems to have moisture before the sun arrives; and at sunrise, his sprout shoots forth.

He is green before the sun. His shoots go forth over his garden.

17 His roots will crowd together over a heap of stones, and among the stones he will remain.

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

18 If someone is devoured right beside him, he will deny him and will say: “I do not know you.”

If he is destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, 'I have not seen you.'

19 For this is the benefit of his way, that others in turn may spring up from the earth.

Look, this is the joy of his way: out of the earth, others shall spring.

20 God will not discard the simple, nor will he extend his hand to the spiteful,

"Look, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.

21 even until your mouth is filled with laughter and your lips with rejoicing.

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

22 Those who hate you, will be clothed with confusion, and the tabernacle of the impious will not continue.

Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more."