1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied to Job: 2 "How long will you go on like this? You sound like a blustering wind. 3 Does God twist justice? Does the Almighty twist what is right? 4 Your children must have sinned against him, so their punishment was well deserved. 5 But if you pray to God and seek the favor of the Almighty, 6 and if you are pure and live with integrity, he will surely rise up and restore your happy home. 7 And though you started with little, you will end with much. 8 "Just ask the previous generation. Pay attention to the experience of our ancestors. 9 For we were born but yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are as fleeting as a shadow. 10 But those who came before us will teach you. They will teach you the wisdom of old. 11 "Can papyrus reeds grow tall without a marsh? Can marsh grass flourish without water? 12 While they are still flowering, not ready to be cut, they begin to wither more quickly than grass. 13 The same happens to all who forget God. The hopes of the godless evaporate. 14 Their confidence hangs by a thread. They are leaning on a spider's web. 15 They cling to their home for security, but it won't last. They try to hold it tight, but it will not endure. 16 The godless seem like a lush plant growing in the sunshine, its branches spreading across the garden. 17 Its roots grow down through a pile of stones; it takes hold on a bed of rocks. 18 But when it is uprooted, it's as though it never existed! 19 That's the end of its life, and others spring up from the earth to replace it. 20 "But look, God will not reject a person of integrity, nor will he lend a hand to the wicked. 21 He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. 22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the home of the wicked will be destroyed."
1 Bildad from Shuhah was next to speak: 2 "How can you keep on talking like this? You're talking nonsense, and noisy nonsense at that. 3 Does God mess up? Does God Almighty ever get things backwards? 4 It's plain that your children sinned against him--otherwise, why would God have punished them? 5 Here's what you must do--and don't put it off any longer: Get down on your knees before God Almighty. 6 If you're as innocent and upright as you say, it's not too late--he'll come running; he'll set everything right again, reestablish your fortunes. 7 Even though you're not much right now, you'll end up better than ever. 8 "Put the question to our ancestors, study what they learned from their ancestors. 9 For we're newcomers at this, with a lot to learn, and not too long to learn it. 10 So why not let the ancients teach you, tell you what's what, instruct you in what they knew from experience? 11 Can mighty pine trees grow tall without soil? Can luscious tomatoes flourish without water? 12 Blossoming flowers look great before they're cut or picked, but without soil or water they wither more quickly than grass. 13 That's what happens to all who forget God--all their hopes come to nothing. 14 They hang their life from one thin thread, they hitch their fate to a spider web. 15 One jiggle and the thread breaks, one jab and the web collapses. 16 Or they're like weeds springing up in the sunshine, invading the garden, 17 Spreading everywhere, overtaking the flowers, getting a foothold even in the rocks. 18 But when the gardener rips them out by the roots, the garden doesn't miss them one bit. 19 The sooner the godless are gone, the better; then good plants can grow in their place. 20 "There's no way that God will reject a good person, and there is no way he'll help a bad one. 21 God will let you laugh again; you'll raise the roof with shouts of joy, 22 With your enemies thoroughly discredited, their house of cards collapsed." HKJob ContinuesHK How Can Mere Mortals Get Right with God?
1 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.
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 "How long will you speak these things, And the words of your mouth be like a strong wind? 3 Does God subvert judgment? Or does the Almighty pervert justice? 4 If your sons have sinned against Him, He has cast them away for their transgression. 5 If you would earnestly seek God And make your supplication to the Almighty, 6 If you were pure and upright, Surely now He would awake for you, And prosper your rightful dwelling place. 7 Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would increase abundantly. 8 "For inquire, please, of the former age, And consider the things discovered by their fathers; 9 For we were born yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days on earth are a shadow. 10 Will they not teach you and tell you, And utter words from their heart? 11 "Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the reeds flourish without water? 12 While it is yet green and not cut down, It withers before any other plant. 13 So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish, 14 Whose confidence shall be cut off, And whose trust is a spider's web. 15 He leans on his house, but it does not stand. He holds it fast, but it does not endure. 16 He grows green in the sun, And his branches spread out in his garden. 17 His roots wrap around the rock heap, And look for a place in the stones. 18 If he is destroyed from his place, Then it will deny him, saying, "I have not seen you.' 19 "Behold, this is the joy of His way, And out of the earth others will grow. 20 Behold, God will not cast away the blameless, Nor will He uphold the evildoers. 21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, And your lips with rejoicing. 22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the dwelling place of the wicked will come to nothing."
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered, 2 "How long will you say these things, And the words of your mouth be a mighty wind? 3 "Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right? 4 "If your sons sinned against Him, Then He delivered them into the power of their transgression. 5 "If you would seek God And implore the compassion of the Almighty, 6 If you are pure and upright, Surely now He would rouse Himself for you And restore your righteous estate. 7 "Though your beginning was insignificant, Yet your end will increase greatly. 8 "Please inquire of past generations, And consider the things searched out by their fathers. 9 "For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, Because our days on earth are as a shadow. 10 "Will they not teach you and tell you, And bring forth words from their minds? 11 "Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the rushes grow without water? 12 "While it is still green and not cut down, Yet it withers before any other plant. 13 "So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the godless will perish, 14 Whose confidence is fragile, And whose trust a spider's web. 15 "He trusts in his house, but it does not stand; He holds fast to it, but it does not endure. 16 "He thrives before the sun, And his shoots spread out over his garden. 17 "His roots wrap around a rock pile, He grasps a house of stones. 18 "If he is removed from his place, Then it will deny him, saying, 'I never saw you.' 19 "Behold, this is the joy of His way; And out of the dust others will spring. 20 "Lo, God will not reject a man of integrity, Nor will He support the evildoers. 21 "He will yet fill your mouth with laughter And your lips with shouting. 22 "Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the tent of the wicked will be no longer."
1 THEN ANSWERED Bildad the Shuhite, 2 How long will you say these things [Job]? And how long shall the words of your mouth be as a mighty wind? 3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness? 4 If your children have sinned against Him, then He has delivered them into the power of their transgression. 5 If you will seek God diligently and make your supplication to the Almighty, 6 Then, if you are pure and upright, surely He will bestir Himself for you and make your righteous dwelling prosperous again. 7 And though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase. 8 For inquire, I pray you, of the former age and apply yourself to that which their fathers have searched out, 9 For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow. 10 Shall not [the forefathers] teach you and tell you and utter words out of their hearts (the deepest part of their nature)? 11 Can the rush or papyrus grow up without marsh? Can the flag or reed grass grow without water? 12 While it is yet green, in flower, and not cut down, it withers before any other herb [when without water]. 13 So are the ways of all who forget God; and the hope of the godless shall perish. 14 For his confidence breaks, and [the object of] his trust is a spider's web. 15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand; he shall hold fast to it, but it shall not last. 16 He is green before the sun, and his shoots go forth over his garden. 17 [Godless] his roots are wrapped about the [stone] heap, and see their way [promisingly] among the rocks. 18 But if [God] snatches him from his property, [then having passed into the hands of others] it [his property] will forget and deny him, [saying,] I have never seen you [before, as if ashamed of him--like his former friends]. 19 See, this is the joy of going the way [of the ungodly]! And from the dust others will spring up [to take his place]. 20 Behold, as surely as God will never uphold wrongdoers, He will never cast away a blameless man. 21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter [Job] and your lips with joyful shouting. 22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tents of the wicked shall be no more.
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied: 2 "How long will you say such things? Your words are a blustering wind. 3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right? 4 When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin. 5 But if you will look to God and plead with the Almighty, 6 if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your rightful place. 7 Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be. 8 "Ask the former generations and find out what their fathers learned, 9 for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow. 10 Will they not instruct you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from their understanding? 11 Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water? 12 While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass. 13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. 14 What he trusts in is fragile; what he relies on is a spider's web. 15 He leans on his web, but it gives way; he clings to it, but it does not hold. 16 He is like a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden; 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 it and says, 'I never saw you.' 19 Surely its life withers away, and from the soil other plants grow. 20 "Surely God does not reject a blameless man or strengthen the hands of evildoers. 21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. 22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tents of the wicked will be no more."
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 "How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind? 3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right? 4 If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression. 5 If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy, 6 if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation. 7 And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great. 8 "For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out. 9 For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are 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 wither before any other plant. 13 Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish. 14 His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider's web. 15 He leans against his 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 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 place, then it will deny him, saying, 'I have never seen you.' 19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the soil others will spring. 20 "Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers. 21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting. 22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more."