Bildad’s First Speech to Job75
8:1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,
8:2 How long will you speak these things,1
seeing2
that the words of your mouth
are like a great3
wind.4
8:3 Does God pervert5
justice?6
or does the Almighty pervert7
what is right?
8:4 If8
your children sinned against him,
he gave them over9
to the penalty10
of their sin.
8:5 But11
if you will look12
to God,
and make your supplication13
to the Almighty,
8:6 If you become14
pure15
and upright,16
even now he will rouse himself17
for you,
and will restore18
your righteous abode.19
8:7 Your beginning20
will seem so small,
since your future will flourish.21
8:8 For inquire now of the former22
generation,
and give heed23
to the findings24
of their fathers;
8:9 For we are recent25
and do not have knowledge,
since our days on earth are but a shadow.26
8:10 Will not they27
instruct you and28
speak to you,
and bring forth words29
from their understanding.30
8:11 Can papyrus grow tall31
where there is no marsh?
can reeds flourish32
without water?
8:12 While it is still in its early flowering33
and not ripe for cutting,34
they can wither away35
faster36
than any grass!37
8:13 Such is the destiny38
of all who forget God,
and the hope of the godless39
perishes.
8:14 Whose40
trust41
is in something futile,42
whose security is a spider’s web.43
8:15 He leans against his house but it does hold
up,44
he takes hold45
of it but it does not stand.
8:16 He is a well-watered plant46
in47
the sun,
its shoots spread48
over its garden.49
8:17 It wraps its roots around a heap50
of stones51
and it looks52
for a place among stones.53
8:18 If he is uprooted54
from his place,
then it55
will disown him, saying,56
“I have never seen you.”
8:19 Indeed, this is the joy of his way.57
and out of the earth others spring up.58
8:20 Surely, God does not reject a blameless man,59
neither does he grasp the hand60
of the evil-doers.
8:21 He will yet61
fill your mouth with laughter,62
and your lips with gladness.
8:22 Those who hate you63
will be clothed with shame,64
and the tent of the wicked will be no more.