Job 8

Bildad Says God Rewards the Good

1Then Bildad the Shuhite responded,2“How long will you say these things, And the 1words of your mouth be a mighty wind?3Does 2God pervert justice? Or does 3the Almighty pervert what is right?44If your sons sinned against Him, Then He turned them over to the 5power of their wrongdoing.5If you will 6search for God And implore the compassion of 7the Almighty,6If you are pure and upright, Surely now 8He will stir Himself for you And restore your righteous 910estate.7Though your beginning was insignificant, Yet your 11end will increase greatly.

8“Please 12inquire of past generations, And consider the things searched out by their fathers.9For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, Because 13our days on earth are as a shadow.10Will they not teach you and tell you, And bring forth words from their minds?

11“Can papyrus grow tall without a marsh? Can the rushes grow without water?12While it is still green and not cut down, Yet it withers before any other 14plant.13So are the paths of 15all who forget God; And the 16hope of the godless will perish,14His confidence is fragile, And his trust is a 17spider’s 18web.15He depends on his 19house, but it does not stand; He holds on to it, but it does not endure.16He 20flourishes before the sun, And his 21shoots spread out over his garden.17His roots wrap around a rock pile, He 22grasps a house of stones.18If he is 23removed from 24his place, Then it will deny him, saying, ‘25I never saw you.’19Behold, 26this is the joy of His way; And out of the dust others will spring.20Behold, 27God will not reject a person of integrity, Nor 28will He 29help evildoers.21He will yet fill 30your mouth with laughter, And your lips with joyful shouting.22Those who hate you will be 31clothed with shame, And the 32tent of the wicked will no longer exist.”