Chapter Text
8:1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,
8:2 “How long will you say these things, And the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
8:3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?
8:4 If your sons sinned against Him, Then He sent them into the power of their transgression.
8:5 If you would seek God earnestly And plead for the grace of the Almighty,
8:6 If you are pure and upright, Indeed now He would rouse Himself for you And make your righteous abode at peace.
8:7 Though your beginning was insignificant, Yet your end will increase greatly.
8:8 “Please ask of past generations, And establish the things searched out by their fathers.
8:9 For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, Because our days on earth are but a shadow.
8:10 Will they not instruct you and tell you, And bring forth words from their hearts?
8:11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the rushes grow without water?
8:12 While it is still green and not cut down, Yet it dries up before any other plant.
8:13 So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the godless will perish,
8:14 Whose confidence is fragile, And whose trust a spider’s web.
8:15 He relies on his house, but it does not stand; He holds fast to it, but it is not established.
8:16 He thrives before the sun, And his shoots go forth over his garden.
8:17 His roots wrap around a rock pile; He looks upon a house of stones.
8:18 If He swallows him up from his place, Then it will deny him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’
8:19 Behold, this is the joy of His way; And out of the dust others will spring.
8:20 Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, Nor will He strengthen the hand of the evildoers.
8:21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter And your lips with shouting.
8:22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the tent of the wicked will be no longer.”