Job 8

1 Then Baldad the Sauchite answered, and said,

Then Bildad the Shuhite made answer and said,

2 How long will you speak these things, [how long shall] the breath of your mouth [be] abundant in words?

How long will you say these things, and how long will the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?

3 Will the Lord be unjust when he judges; or will he that has made all things pervert justice?

Does God give wrong decisions? or is the Ruler of all not upright in his judging?

4 If your sons have sinned before him, he has cast them away because of their transgression.

If your children have done evil against him, then their punishment is from his hand.

5 But be you early in prayer to the Lord Almighty.

If you will make search for God with care, and put your request before the Ruler of all;

6 If you are pure and true, he will listen to your supplication, and will restore to you the habitation of righteousness.

If you are clean and upright; then he will certainly be moved to take up your cause, and will make clear your righteousness by building up your house again.

7 Though then your beginning should be small, yet your end should be unspeakably great.

And though your start was small, your end will be very great.

8 For ask of the former generation, and search diligently among the race of [our] fathers:

Put the question now to the past generations, and give attention to what has been searched out by their fathers:

9 (for we are of yesterday, and know nothing; for our life upon the earth is a shadow: )

(For we are but of yesterday, and have no knowledge, because our days on earth are gone like a shade: )

10 shall not these teach you, and report [to you], and bring out words from [their] heart?

Will they not give you teaching, and say words of wisdom to you?

11 Does the rush flourish without water, or shall the flag grow up without moisture?

Will the river-plant come up in its pride without wet earth? will the grass get tall without water?

12 When it is yet on the root, and [though] it has not been cut down, does not any herb wither before it has received moisture?

When it is still green, without being cut down, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant.

13 Thus then shall be the end of all that forget the Lord: for the hope of the ungodly shall perish.

So is the end of all who do not keep God in mind; and the hope of the evil-doer comes to nothing:

14 For his house shall be without inhabitants, and his tent shall prove a spider's web.

Whose support is cut off, and whose hope is no stronger than a spider's thread.

15 If he should prop up his house, it shall not stand: and when he has taken hold of it, it shall not remain.

He is looking to his family for support, but it is not there; he puts his hope in it, but it comes to nothing.

16 For it is moist under the sun, and his branch shall come forth out of his dung-heap.

He is full of strength before the sun, and his branches go out over his garden.

17 He lies down upon a gathering of stones, and shall live in the mist of flints.

His roots are twisted round the stones, forcing their way in between them.

18 If [God] should destroy [him], his place shall deny him. Hast you not seen such things,

If he is taken away from his place, then it will say, I have not seen you.

19 that such is the overthrow of the ungodly? and out of the earth another shall grow.

Such is the joy of his way, and out of the dust another comes up to take his place.

20 For the Lord will by no means reject the harmless man; but he will not receive any gift of the ungodly.

Truly, God will not give up him who is without sin, and will not take evil-doers by the hand.

21 But he will fill with laughter the mouth of the sincere, and their lips with thanksgiving.

The time will come when your mouth will be full of laughing, and cries of joy will come from your lips.

22 But their adversaries shall clothe themselves with shame; and the habitation of the ungodly shall perish.

Your haters will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the sinner will not be seen again.