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The Book of Job

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- Chapter 8 -

Bildad: Let Job repent

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But Baldad the Suhite, responding, said:
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How long will you speak this way, so that the words of your mouth are like a changeable wind?
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Does God supplant judgment, or does the Almighty subvert that which is just?
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And if now your children have sinned against him, and he has dismissed them into the power of their iniquity,
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even so, you should arise early to God, so as to beseech the Almighty.
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If you approach with purity and honesty, he will quickly be attentive to you, and a peaceful life will repay your righteousness,
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so much so that, if your former things were small, your latter things would be multiplied greatly.
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For inquire of the earliest generation, and investigate diligently the history of the fathers,
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(of course, we are but of yesterday and are ignorant that our days on earth are like a shadow,)
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and they will teach you; they will speak with you and will offer you the eloquence of their hearts.
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Can the marsh plant live without moisture? Or can sedges grow without water?
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When it is still in flower, and has not been pulled up by hand, it withers before all other plants.
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Just so are the ways of all who forget God, and the hope of the hypocrite will perish.
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His frenzy will not please him, and his faith will be like a spider’s web.
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He will lean on his house, and it will not stand; he will prop it up, but it will not rise.
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He seems to have moisture before the sun arrives; and at sunrise, his sprout shoots forth.
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His roots will crowd together over a heap of stones, and among the stones he will remain.
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If someone is devoured right beside him, he will deny him and will say: “I do not know you.”
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For this is the benefit of his way, that others in turn may spring up from the earth.(a)
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God will not discard the simple, nor will he extend his hand to the spiteful,
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even until your mouth is filled with laughter and your lips with rejoicing.
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Those who hate you, will be clothed with confusion, and the tabernacle of the impious will not continue.

Footnotes

(a)8:19 Or, ‘this is the happiness of his way.’(Conte)

Bildad: Let Job repent

1
Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
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“How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
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Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
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If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.
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If you want to seek God diligently, make your supplication to the Almighty.
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If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
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Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.
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“Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.
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(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.)
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Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?
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“Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?
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While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.
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So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man will perish,
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whose confidence will break apart, whose trust is a spider’s web.
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He will lean on his house, but it will not stand. He will cling to it, but it will not endure.
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He is green before the sun. His shoots go out along his garden.
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His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones.
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If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’
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Behold, this is the joy of his way. Out of the earth, others will spring.
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“Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.
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He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.
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Those who hate you will be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked will be no more.”
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