Job 8

Bildad begins his first speech, insisting that God does not pervert justice. He suggests Job's children died for their own sin and urges Job to seek God, promising that the Almighty will restore the righteous but destroy the hypocrite.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,	Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2	How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?	"How long will You speak these things? And how long shall the words of Your mouth be like a strong wind?
3	Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?	Does God pervert judgment? Or does the Almighty pervert justice?
4	If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;	If Your children have sinned against Him, and He has cast them away for their transgression;
5	If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;	if You would seek to God in good time, and make Your 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.	if You were pure and upright, surely now He would awake for You, and make the habitation of Your righteousness prosperous.
7	Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.	Though Your beginning was small, yet Your latter end should greatly increase.
8	For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:	For inquire, I pray You, of the former age, and prepare Yourself to the search of their fathers,
9	(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)	(for we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow),
10	Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?	shall they not teach You, and tell You, and utter words out of their heart?
11	Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?	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.	While it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, it withers before any other herb.
13	So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:	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.	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.	He shall lean on 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.	He is green before the sun, and His branch shoots forth in His garden.
17	His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.	His roots are wrapped about the heap, and sees the place of stones.
18	If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.	If He destroy Him from His place, then it shall deny Him, saying, 'I have not seen You.'
19	Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.	See, 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:	See, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will He help the evildoers,
21	Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.	till He fill Your mouth with laughing, and Your lips with rejoicing.
22	They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.	They that hate you shall be clothed with shame, and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nothing."