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Then answered Bildad the Shuchi, and said,

How long wilt thou speak these things? And how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a raging ruach (wind)?

Doth El pervert mishpat (justice)? Or doth Shaddai pervert tzedek?

If thy banim have sinned against Him, and He have cast them away for their peysha (transgression);

If thou wouldest seek El (G-d) earnestly, and make thy techinnah (supplication) to Shaddai;

If thou wert pure and yashar; surely now He would rouse Himself for thee, and restore the habitation of thy tzedek.

Though thy reshit (beginning) was small, yet thy acharit (end) shall be exceedingly great.

For inquire, now, of the dor rishon (former age), and consider the research of their avot;

—For we are but of temol (yesterday, etmol) and know nothing, because yameinu (our days) upon earth are a tzel (shadow)—

10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and bring forth words out of their lev?

11 Can the papyrus grow up without marsh? Can the reed grow without mayim?

12 Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before kol khatzir (all grass).

13 So are the paths of all that forget El (G-d), and the tikvat chanef (hope of the hypocrite, the irreligious, the secretly wicked profane person) shall perish,

14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose reliance shall be a bais akavish (spider’s web).

15 He shall lean upon his bais, but it shall not stand, he shall cling to it, but it shall not hold.

16 He is like a green plant before the shemesh, and its branch shooteth forth in its gan (garden).

17 Its shorashim (roots) are wrapped about the rock heap, and it looks on the bais avanim (place of stones).

18 But when cast away from its makom, then its place shall deny it, saying, Loh re’iticha (I never saw thee).

19 Behold, thus was the joy of its derech, and others spring forth from the aphar (dust).

20 Surely El (G-d) will not cast away a blameless man, neither will He help the resha’im (evil-doers);

21 Till He fill thy mouth with sechok (laughter), and thy lips with teruah (shouts of joy).

22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with bushah (shame), and the ohel resha’im shall be no more.

Bildad Speaks: Job Should Repent

Then (A)Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

“How long will you say these things,
    and the words of your mouth be a (B)great wind?
(C)Does God pervert justice?
    Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
If your (D)children have sinned against him,
    he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.
If you will seek God
    and (E)plead with the Almighty for mercy,
if you are pure and upright,
    surely then he will (F)rouse himself for you
    and (G)restore your rightful habitation.
And though your beginning was small,
    (H)your latter days will be very great.

“For (I)inquire, please, of bygone ages,
    and consider what (J)the fathers have searched out.
For we are but of yesterday and know nothing,
    for our days on earth are (K)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 (L)wither before any other plant.
13 Such are the paths of all who (M)forget God;
    (N)the hope of (O)the godless shall perish.
14 His confidence is severed,
    and his trust is (P)a spider's web.[a]
15 He leans against his (Q)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 (R)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 (S)place,
    then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have never (T)seen you.’
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way,
    and out of (U)the soil others will spring.

20 “Behold, God will not reject a blameless man,
    nor take the hand of evildoers.
21 He will yet (V)fill your mouth with laughter,
    and your lips with shouting.
22 Those who hate you will be (W)clothed with shame,
    and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 8:14 Hebrew house