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Bildad Speaks to Job

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:

“How long will you say such things?
    Your words are no more than wind.
God does not twist justice;
    the Almighty does not make wrong what is right.
Your children sinned against God,
    and he punished them for their sins.
But you should ask God for help
    and pray to the Almighty for mercy.
If you are good and honest,
    he will stand up for you
    and bring you back where you belong.
Where you began will seem unimportant,
    because your future will be so successful.

“Ask old people;
    find out what their ancestors learned,
because we were only born yesterday and know nothing.
    Our days on earth are only a shadow.
10 Those people will teach you and tell you
    and speak about what they know.
11 Papyrus plants cannot grow where there is no swamp,
    and reeds cannot grow tall without water.
12 While they are still growing and not yet cut,
    they will dry up quicker than grass.
13 That is what will happen to those who forget God;
    the hope of the wicked will be gone.
14 What they hope in is easily broken;
    what they trust is like a spider’s web.
15 They lean on the spider’s web, but it breaks.
    They grab it, but it does not hold up.
16 They are like well-watered plants in the sunshine
    that spread their roots all through the garden.
17 They wrap their roots around a pile of rocks
    and look for a place among the stones.
18 But if a plant is torn from its place,
    then that place rejects it and says, ‘I never saw you.’
19 Now joy has gone away;
    other plants grow up from the same dirt.

20 “Surely God does not reject the innocent
    or give strength to those who do evil.
21 God will yet fill your mouth with laughter
    and your lips with shouts of joy.
22 Your enemies will be covered with shame,
    and the tents of the wicked will be gone.”

Bildad

Then Bildad the Shuhite(A) replied:

“How long will you say such things?(B)
    Your words are a blustering wind.(C)
Does God pervert justice?(D)
    Does the Almighty pervert what is right?(E)
When your children sinned against him,
    he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.(F)
But if you will seek God earnestly
    and plead(G) with the Almighty,(H)
if you are pure and upright,
    even now he will rouse himself on your behalf(I)
    and restore you to your prosperous state.(J)
Your beginnings will seem humble,
    so prosperous(K) will your future be.(L)

“Ask the former generation(M)
    and find out what their ancestors learned,
for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,(N)
    and our days on earth are but a shadow.(O)
10 Will they not instruct(P) you and tell you?
    Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?(Q)
11 Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?(R)
    Can reeds(S) thrive without water?
12 While still growing and uncut,
    they wither more quickly than grass.(T)
13 Such is the destiny(U) of all who forget God;(V)
    so perishes the hope of the godless.(W)
14 What they trust in is fragile[a];
    what they rely on is a spider’s web.(X)
15 They lean on the web,(Y) but it gives way;
    they cling to it, but it does not hold.(Z)
16 They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine,
    spreading its shoots(AA) over the garden;(AB)
17 it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks
    and looks for a place among the stones.
18 But when it is torn from its spot,
    that place disowns(AC) it and says, ‘I never saw you.’(AD)
19 Surely its life withers(AE) away,
    and[b] from the soil other plants grow.(AF)

20 “Surely God does not reject one who is blameless(AG)
    or strengthen the hands of evildoers.(AH)
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter(AI)
    and your lips with shouts of joy.(AJ)
22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame,(AK)
    and the tents(AL) of the wicked will be no more.”(AM)

Footnotes

  1. Job 8:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  2. Job 8:19 Or Surely all the joy it has / is that