Bildad’s First Speech to Job75

8:1 Then Bildad the Shuhite spoke up 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 pay attention23 to the findings24

of their ancestors;25

8:9 For we were born yesterday26 and do not have knowledge,

since our days on earth are but a shadow.27

8:10 Will they not28 instruct you and29 speak to you,

and bring forth words30

from their understanding?31

8:11 Can the papyrus plant grow tall32 where there is no marsh?

Can reeds flourish33 without water?

8:12 While they are still beginning to flower34

and not ripe for cutting,35

they can wither away36

faster37 than any grass!38

8:13 Such is the destiny39 of all who forget God;

the hope of the godless40 perishes,

8:14 whose41 trust42 is in something futile,43

whose security is a spider’s web.44

8:15 He leans against his house but it does not hold up,45

he takes hold46 of it but it does not stand.

8:16 He is a well-watered plant47 in48 the sun,

its shoots spread49 over its garden.50

8:17 It wraps its roots around a heap51 of stones52

and it looks53 for a place among stones.54

8:18 If he is uprooted55 from his place,

then that place56 will disown him, saying,57

‘I have never seen you!’

8:19 Indeed, this is the joy of his way,58

and out of the earth59 others spring up.60

8:20 “Surely, God does not reject a blameless man,61

nor does he grasp the hand62

of the evildoers.

8:21 He will yet63 fill your mouth with laughter,64

and your lips with gladness.

8:22 Those who hate you65 will be clothed with shame,66

and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”