Bildad Says God Rewards the Good
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
2 “How long will you say these things,
And the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
And the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
3 “Does God pervert justice?
Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?
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.
Then He delivered them into the power of their transgression.
5 “If you would seek God
And implore the compassion of the Almighty,
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.
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.
Yet your end will increase greatly.
8 “Please inquire of past generations,
And consider the things searched out by their fathers.
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.
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?
And bring forth words from their minds?
11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can the rushes grow without water?
Can the rushes grow without water?
12 “While it is still green and not cut down,
Yet it withers before any other plant.
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,
And the hope of the godless will perish,
14 Whose confidence is fragile,
And whose trust a spider’s web.
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.
He holds fast to it, but it does not endure.
16 “He thrives before the sun,
And his shoots spread out over his garden.
And his shoots spread out over his garden.
17 “His roots wrap around a rock pile,
He grasps a house of stones.
He grasps a house of stones.
18 “If he is removed from his place,
Then it will deny him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’
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.
And out of the dust others will spring.
20 “Lo, God will not reject a man of integrity,
Nor will He support the evildoers.
Nor will He support the evildoers.
21 “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
And your lips with shouting.
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.”
And the tent of the wicked will be no longer.”
Job, 8 chapter