| 8:1 |
Then Bildad the Shuhite made answer and said, |
| 8:2 |
How long will you say these things, and how long will the words of your mouth be like a strong wind? |
| 8:3 |
Does God give wrong decisions? or is the Ruler of all not upright in his judging? |
| 8:4 |
If your children have done evil against him, then their punishment is from his hand. |
| 8:5 |
If you will make search for God with care, and put your request before the Ruler of all; |
| 8:6 |
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. |
| 8:7 |
And though your start was small, your end will be very great. |
| 8:8 |
Put the question now to the past generations, and give attention to what has been searched out by their fathers: |
| 8:9 |
(For we are but of yesterday, and have no knowledge, because our days on earth are gone like a shade:) |
| 8:10 |
Will they not give you teaching, and say words of wisdom to you? |
| 8:11 |
Will the river-plant come up in its pride without wet earth? will the grass get tall without water? |
| 8:12 |
When it is still green, without being cut down, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant. |
| 8:13 |
So is the end of all who do not keep God in mind; and the hope of the evil-doer comes to nothing: |
| 8:14 |
Whose support is cut off, and whose hope is no stronger than a spider's thread. |
| 8:15 |
He is looking to his family for support, but it is not there; he puts his hope in it, but it comes to nothing. |
| 8:16 |
He is full of strength before the sun, and his branches go out over his garden. |
| 8:17 |
His roots are twisted round the stones, forcing their way in between them. |
| 8:18 |
If he is taken away from his place, then it will say, I have not seen you. |
| 8:19 |
Such is the joy of his way, and out of the dust another comes up to take his place. |
| 8:20 |
Truly, God will not give up him who is without sin, and will not take evil-doers by the hand. |
| 8:21 |
The time will come when your mouth will be full of laughing, and cries of joy will come from your lips. |
| 8:22 |
Your haters will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the sinner will not be seen again. |
