Job 8

1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:

2“How long will you say these things? The words of your mouth are a mighty wind.

3Does God twist justice? Does the Almighty twist righteousness?

4If your children sinned against him, he handed them over to the power of their transgression.

5But if you will seek God earnestly and plead with the Almighty for mercy,

6if you are pure and upright, then surely he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore your righteous home.

7Though your beginning was small, your future will be very great.

8Ask the former generation, please, and consider what their ancestors searched out.

9For we are only of yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are a shadow.

10Will they not teach you and tell you, and bring out words from their hearts?

11Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish without water?

12While it is still green and not yet cut, it withers before any other grass.

13Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish.

14His confidence snaps, and what he trusts is a spider’s web.

15He leans on his house, but it does not stand; he holds on to it, but it does not last.

16He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, and his shoots spread out over his garden.

17His roots wrap around a pile of rocks; he looks out on a house of stones.

18But if he is torn from his place, then that place will disown him: ‘I never saw you.’

19Look, that is the joy of his way; and out of the dust others will spring up.

20Look, God does not reject a blameless person, and he does not strengthen the hand of evildoers.

21He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.

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