Job

8 Then responded Bildad the Shuhite, and said:—

2 How long wilt thou speak these things? Or as a mighty wind shall be the sayings of thy mouth?

3 Should God pervert justice? Or the Almighty pervert righteousness?

4 Though thy children sinned against him, And he delivered them into the hand of their transgression

5 Yet if thou thyself wilt diligently seek unto God,—And unto the Almighty wilt make supplication;

6 If pure and upright thou thyself art Surely now will he answer thy prayer, And will prosper thy righteous habitation:

7 So shall thy beginning appear small,—When thy latter end he shall greatly increase!

8 For inquire, I pray thee, of a former generation, And prepare thyself for the research of their fathers;—

9 For of yesterday are we and cannot know, For a shadow are our days upon earth:

10 Shall they not teach thee—tell thee, And out of their memory bring forth words?

11 Can the paper-reed grow up without a marsh? Or the rush grow up without water?

12 Though while still in its freshness it be not plucked off Yet before any kind of grass it doth wither:

13 So shall be the latter end of all who forget God, And the hope of the impious shall perish:

14 Whose trust shall be contemptible,—And a spider’s web his confidence:

15 He leaneth upon his house and it will not stand, He holdeth it fast and it will not remain erect.

16 Full of moisture he is before the sun, And over his garden his shoot goeth forth:

17 Over a heap his roots are entwined, A place of stones he descrieth;

18 If one destroy him out of his place Then will it disown him [saying]—I have not seen thee.

19 Lo! that is the joy of his way,—And out of the dust shall others spring up.

20 Lo! God will not reject a blameless man, Neither will he grasp the hand of evil-doers:

21 At length he shall fill with laughter thy mouth, And thy lips with a shout of triumph:

22 They who hate thee shall be clothed with shame,—But the tent of the lawless shall not be!