Job 8
1But Baldad the Suhite, responding, said:
2How long will you speak this way, so that the words of your mouth are like a changeable wind?
3Does God supplant judgment, or does the Almighty subvert that which is just?
4And if now your children have sinned against him, and he has dismissed them into the power of their iniquity,
5even so, you should arise early to God, so as to beseech the Almighty.
6If you approach with purity and honesty, he will quickly be attentive to you, and a peaceful life will repay your righteousness,
7so much so that, if your former things were small, your latter things would be multiplied greatly.
8For inquire of the earliest generation, and investigate diligently the history of the fathers,
9(of course, we are but of yesterday and are ignorant that our days on earth are like a shadow,)
10and they will teach you; they will speak with you and will offer you the eloquence of their hearts.
11Can the marsh plant live without moisture? Or can sedges grow without water?
12When it is still in flower, and has not been pulled up by hand, it withers before all other plants.
13Just so are the ways of all who forget God, and the hope of the hypocrite will perish.
14His frenzy will not please him, and his faith will be like a spider’s web.
15He will lean on his house, and it will not stand; he will prop it up, but it will not rise.
16He seems to have moisture before the sun arrives; and at sunrise, his sprout shoots forth.
17His roots will crowd together over a heap of stones, and among the stones he will remain.
18If someone is devoured right beside him, he will deny him and will say: “I do not know you.”
19For this is the benefit of his way, that others in turn may spring up from the earth.
20God will not discard the simple, nor will he extend his hand to the spiteful,
21even until your mouth is filled with laughter and your lips with rejoicing.
22Those who hate you, will be clothed with confusion, and the tabernacle of the impious will not continue.
1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
3Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
4If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;
5If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
8For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
9(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)
10Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
11Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
12Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
13So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:
14Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web.
15He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
16He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
17His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.
18If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.
19Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
20Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
21Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
22They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.