God's New Bible

The Book of Job

Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 8 -

Bildad: Let Job repent

1
But Baldad the Suhite, responding, said:
2
How long will you speak this way, so that the words of your mouth are like a changeable wind?
3
Does God supplant judgment, or does the Almighty subvert that which is just?
4
And if now your children have sinned against him, and he has dismissed them into the power of their iniquity,
5
even so, you should arise early to God, so as to beseech the Almighty.
6
If you approach with purity and honesty, he will quickly be attentive to you, and a peaceful life will repay your righteousness,
7
so much so that, if your former things were small, your latter things would be multiplied greatly.
8
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.
11
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.
13
Just so are the ways of all who forget God, and the hope of the hypocrite will perish.
14
His frenzy will not please him, and his faith will be like a spider’s web.
15
He will lean on his house, and it will not stand; he will prop it up, but it will not rise.
16
He seems to have moisture before the sun arrives; and at sunrise, his sprout shoots forth.
17
His roots will crowd together over a heap of stones, and among the stones he will remain.
18
If someone is devoured right beside him, he will deny him and will say: “I do not know you.”
19
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.
22
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,
2
How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
3
Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
4
If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.
5
If you want to seek God diligently, make your supplication to the Almighty.
6
If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
7
Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.
8
Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.
9
(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.)
10
Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?
11
Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?
12
While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.
13
So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man will perish,
14
whose confidence will break apart, whose trust is a spider’s web.
15
He will lean on his house, but it will not stand. He will cling to it, but it will not endure.
16
He is green before the sun. His shoots go out along his garden.
17
His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of 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. Out of the earth, others will spring.
20
Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.
21
He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.
22
Those who hate you will be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked will be no more.”