Job 8

Bildad Speaks: Job Should Repent

1 Then *ch. 2:11Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

2 "How long will you say these things,

and the words of your mouth be a *1 Kgs. 19:11;[ch. 15:2]great wind?

3 *ch. 34:12;[Gen. 18:25;Deut. 32:4;2 Chr. 19:7;Ezra 9:15;Dan. 9:14;Rom. 3:5]Does God pervert justice?

Or does the Almighty pervert the right?

4 If your *ch. 1:5,18,19children have sinned against him,

he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.

5 If you will seek God

and *ch. 9:15plead with the Almighty for mercy,

6 if you are pure and upright,

surely then he will *See Ps. 7:6rouse himself for you

and *[Prov. 3:33]restore your rightful habitation.

7 And though your beginning was small,

*[ch. 42:12;James 5:11]your latter days will be very great.

8 "For *Deut. 4:32;32:7;[ch. 15:18] inquire, please, of bygone ages,

and consider what *ch. 15:18the fathers have searched out.

9 For we are but of yesterday and know nothing,

for our days on earth are *ch. 14:2;17:7;1 Chr. 29:15;Ps. 102:11;109:23;144:4;Eccles. 6:12a shadow.

10 Will they not teach you and tell you

and utter words out of their understanding?

11 "Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh?

Can reeds flourish where there is no water?

12 While yet in flower and not cut down,

they *[Ps. 37:2;129:6]wither before any other plant.

13 Such are the paths of all who *See Ps. 9:17forget God;

*Prov. 10:28;11:7the hope of *ch. 13:16;15:34;27:8the godless shall perish.

14 His confidence is severed,

and his trust is *[Isa. 59:5,6]a spider’s web.*8:14 Hebrew house

15 He leans against his *ch. 27:18house, but it does not stand;

he lays hold of it, but it does not endure.

16 He is a lush plant before the sun,

and his *Ps. 80:11shoots spread over his garden.

17 His roots entwine the stone heap;

he looks upon a house of stones.

18 If he is destroyed from his *See ch. 7:10place,

then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have never *ch. 7:8seen you.’

19 Behold, this is the joy of his way,

and out of *[1 Sam. 2:7,8;Ps. 103:16;113:7]the soil others will spring.

20 "Behold, God will not reject a blameless man,

nor take the hand of evildoers.

21 He will yet *Ps. 126:2fill your mouth with laughter,

and your lips with shouting.

22 Those who hate you will be *Ps. 35:26;132:18;[Ps. 109:29]clothed with shame,

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