Job 8

1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

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

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

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

Does God pervert justice? Or does Shaddai pervert righteousness?

4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have delivered them into the hand of their transgression:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out:

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

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

(For we are but of 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?

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

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

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

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

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

13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hope of the godless man shall perish:

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

14 Whose confidence shall break in sunder, and whose trust is a spider’s web.

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

15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold fast thereby, but it shall not endure.

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

16 He is green before the sun, and his shoots go forth over his garden.

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

17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, he beholdeth the place of stones.

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

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

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

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

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

20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he uphold the evil-doers.

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

21 He will yet fill thy mouth with laughter, and thy lips with shouting.

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

22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the tent of the wicked shall be no more.

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