Job 8

1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

Then Bildad the Shuhite made answer 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, and how long will the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8 For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their 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 but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow: )

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

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

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

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

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

12 While it is still green, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

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

13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope 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 Whose confidence shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evildoers:

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

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

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

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

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