8:1 | | Then Bildad the Shuhite made answer and said, |
8:2 | | How long will you say these things, and how long will the words of your mouth be like a strong wind? |
8:3 | | Does God give wrong decisions? or is the Ruler of all not upright in his judging? |
8:4 | | If your children have done evil against him, then their punishment is from his hand. |
8:5 | | If you will make search for God with care, and put your request before the Ruler of all; |
8:6 | | If you are clean and upright; then he will certainly be moved to take up your cause, and will make clear your righteousness by building up your house again. |
8:7 | | And though your start was small, your end will be very great. |
8:8 | | Put the question now to the past generations, and give attention to what has been searched out by their fathers: |
8:9 | | (For we are but of yesterday, and have no knowledge, because our days on earth are gone like a shade:) |
8:10 | | Will they not give you teaching, and say words of wisdom to you? |
8:11 | | Will the river-plant come up in its pride without wet earth? will the grass get tall without water? |
8:12 | | When it is still green, without being cut down, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant. |
8:13 | | So is the end of all who do not keep God in mind; and the hope of the evil-doer comes to nothing: |
8:14 | | Whose support is cut off, and whose hope is no stronger than a spider's thread. |
8:15 | | He is looking to his family for support, but it is not there; he puts his hope in it, but it comes to nothing. |
8:16 | | He is full of strength before the sun, and his branches go out over his garden. |
8:17 | | His roots are twisted round the stones, forcing their way in between them. |
8:18 | | If he is taken away from his place, then it will say, I have not seen you. |
8:19 | | Such is the joy of his way, and out of the dust another comes up to take his place. |
8:20 | | Truly, God will not give up him who is without sin, and will not take evil-doers by the hand. |
8:21 | | The time will come when your mouth will be full of laughing, and cries of joy will come from your lips. |
8:22 | | Your haters will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the sinner will not be seen again. |