Job 8
Living Bible
8 Bildad the Shuhite replies to Job:
2 “How long will you go on like this, Job, blowing words around like wind? 3 Does God twist justice? 4 If your children sinned against him, and he punished them, 5 and you begged Almighty God for them— 6 if you were pure and good, he would hear your prayer and answer you and bless you with a happy home. 7 And though you started with little, you would end with much.
8 “Read the history books and see— 9 for we were born but yesterday and know so little; our days here on earth are as transient as shadows. 10 But the wisdom of the past will teach you. The experience of others will speak to you, reminding you that 11-13 those who forget God have no hope. They are like rushes without any mire to grow in; or grass without water to keep it alive. Suddenly it begins to wither, even before it is cut. 14 A man without God is trusting in a spider’s web. Everything he counts on will collapse. 15 If he counts on his home for security, it won’t last. 16 At dawn he seems so strong and virile, like a green plant; his branches spread across the garden. 17 His roots are in the stream, down among the stones. 18 But when he disappears, he isn’t even missed! 19 That is all he can look forward to! And others spring up from the earth to replace him!
20 “But look! God will not cast away a good man, nor prosper evildoers. 21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. 22 Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame, and the wicked destroyed.”
Job 8
King James Version
8 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
3 Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;
5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
8 For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)
10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:
14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.
15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
16 He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.
18 If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.