JOB 8 [†]Then  c Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

2 “How long will you say these things,

and the words of your mouth be a  d great wind?

3[^]  e Does God pervert justice?

Or does the Almighty pervert the right?

4[†] If your  f children have sinned against him,

he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.

5 If you will seek God

and  g plead with the Almighty for mercy,

6 if you are pure and upright,

surely then he will  h rouse himself for you

and  i restore your rightful habitation.

7 And though your beginning was small,

 j your latter days will be very great.

8[†] “For  k inquire, please, of bygone ages,

and consider what  l the fathers have searched out.

9 For we are but of yesterday and know nothing,

for our days on earth are  m a 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  n wither before any other plant.

13 Such are the paths of all who  o forget God;

 p the hope of  q the godless shall perish.

14 His confidence is severed,

and his trust is  r a spider’s web. [1]

15 He leans against his  s house, 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  t shoots 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  u place,

then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have never  v seen you.’

19 Behold, this is the joy of his way,

and out of  w the soil others will spring.

20[†] “Behold, God will not reject a blameless man,

nor take the hand of evildoers.

21 He will yet  x fill your mouth with laughter,

and your lips with shouting.

22 Those who hate you will be  y clothed with shame,

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