Chapter 8

  Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,  

-

  'How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?  

-

  Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?  

-

  If your children have sinned against him, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience;  

-

  If you want to seek God diligently, Make your supplication to the Almighty.  

-

  If you were pure and upright, Surely now he would awaken for you, And make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.  

-

  Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would greatly increase.  

-

  'Please inquire of past generations, Find out about the learning of their fathers.  

-

  (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days on earth are a shadow.)  

-

  Shall they not teach you, tell you, And utter words out of their heart?  

-

  'Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?  

-

  While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, It withers before any other reed.  

-

  So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish,  

-

  Whose confidence shall break apart, Whose trust is a spider's web.  

-

  He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.  

-

  He is green before the sun, His shoots go forth over his garden.  

-

  His roots are wrapped around the rock pile, He sees the place of stones.  

-

  If he is destroyed from his place, Then it shall deny him, saying, 'I have not seen you.'  

-

  Behold, this is the joy of his way: Out of the earth shall others spring.  

-

  'Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers.  

-

  He will still fill your mouth with laughter, Your lips with shouting.  

-

  Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more.'  

-