Job 8

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,⋮

2 “How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?⋮

3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?⋮

4 If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.⋮

5 If you want to seek God diligently, make your supplication to the Almighty.⋮

6 If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.⋮

7 Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.⋮

8 “Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.⋮

9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.)⋮

10 Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?⋮

11 “Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?⋮

12 While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.⋮

13 So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man will perish,⋮

14 whose confidence will break apart, whose trust is a spider’s web.⋮

15 He will lean on his house, but it will not stand. He will cling to it, but it will not endure.⋮

16 He is green before the sun. His shoots go out along his garden.⋮

17 His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones.⋮

18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’⋮

19 Behold, this is the joy of his way. Out of the earth, others will spring.⋮

20 “Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.⋮

21 He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.⋮

22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked will be no more.”⋮