Job 8

1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,

2 How long wilt thou speak these [things]? and [how long shall] the words of thy mouth [be like] a strong wind?

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

3 Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert righteousness?

4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;

Your children have sinned against him; we know this, for he gave them into the hand of their sins.

5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

But suppose you diligently sought God and presented your request to the Almighty.

6 If thou [wert] pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

If you are pure and upright, then he would surely stir himself on your behalf and restore you to your rightful place.

7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

Even though your beginning was small, still your final condition would be much greater.

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

Please ask the former generations, and give your attention to what our ancestors learned.

9 (For we [are but of] yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth [are] a shadow: )

(We were only born yesterday and know nothing because our days on earth are a shadow).

10 Shall not they teach thee, [and] tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

Will they not teach you and tell you? Will they not speak words from their hearts?

11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?

Can papyrus grow without a marsh? Can reeds grow without water?

12 Whilst it [is] yet in his greenness, [and] not cut down, it withereth before any [other] herb.

While they are still green and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.

13 So [are] the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:

So also are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish.

14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust [shall be] a spider’s web.

His confidence will break apart, and his trust is as weak as 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.

He leans on his house, but it will not support him; he takes hold of it, but it does not stand.

16 He [is] green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.

Under the sun he is green, and his shoots go out over his entire garden.

17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, [and] seeth the place of stones.

His roots are wrapped about the heaps of stone; they look for good places among the rocks.

18 If he destroy him from his place, then [it] shall deny him, [saying], I have not seen thee.

But if this person is destroyed out of his place, then that place will deny him and say, 'I never saw you.'

19 Behold, this [is] the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

See, this is the “joy” of such a person's behavior; other plants will sprout out of the same soil in his place.

20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect [man], neither will he help the evil doers:

See, God will not cast away an innocent man; neither will he take the hand of evildoers.

21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.

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

22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.

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