Job 8
Bildad Says God Rewards the Good
1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,
2“How long will you say these things?
And will the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
3Does God pervert justice?
Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
4If your children have sinned against Him,
Then He has handed them over to the power of their transgression and punished them.
5If you would [diligently] seek God
And implore the compassion and favor of the Almighty,
6Then, if you are pure and upright,
Surely now He will awaken for you
And restore your righteous place.
7Though your beginning was insignificant,
Yet your end will greatly increase.
8“Inquire, please, of past generations,
And consider and apply yourself to the things searched out by their fathers.
9For we are only of yesterday and know nothing,
Because our days on earth are [like] a shadow [just a breath or a vapor].
10Will they (the fathers) not teach you and tell you,
And utter words from their hearts [the deepest part of their nature]?
11“Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can the rushes or reed grass grow without water?
12While it is still green (in flower) and not cut down,
Yet it withers before any other plant [when without water].
13So are the paths of all who forget God;
And the hope of the godless will perish,
14For his confidence is fragile and breaks,
And his trust is [like] a spider’s web.
15He trusts in his house, but it does not stand;
He holds tightly to it, but it does not endure.
16He thrives and prospers [like a green plant] before the sun,
And his branches spread out over his garden.
17His [godless] roots are wrapped around a pile of rocks,
And he gazes at a house of stones.
18If he is snatched from his place [in the garden],
Then his place will forget him, saying, ‘I have never seen you.’
19Behold, this is the joy of His way;
And from out of the dust others will spring up and grow [to take his place].
20Behold, God will not reject a man of integrity,
Nor will He strengthen or support evildoers.
21He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
And your lips with joyful shouting [if you are found blameless].
22Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,
And the tents of the wicked will be no longer.”