8:1  THEN ANSWERED Bildad the Shuhite,

8:2  How long will you say these things [Job]? And how long shall the words of your mouth be as a mighty wind?

8:3  Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?

8:4  If your children have sinned against Him, then He has delivered them into the power of their transgression.

8:5  If you will seek God diligently and make your supplication to the Almighty,

8:6  Then, if you are pure and upright, surely He will bestir Himself for you and make your righteous dwelling prosperous again.

8:7  And though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.

8:8  For inquire, I pray you, of the former age and apply yourself to that which their fathers have searched out,

8:9  For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow.

8:10  Shall not [the forefathers] teach you and tell you and utter words out of their hearts (the deepest part of their nature)?

8:11  Can the rush {or} papyrus grow up without marsh? Can the flag {or} reed grass grow without water?

8:12  While it is yet green, in flower, and not cut down, it withers before any other herb [when without water].

8:13  So are the ways of all who forget God; and the hope of the godless shall perish.

8:14  For his confidence breaks, and [the object of] his trust is a spider's web.

8:15  He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand; he shall hold fast to it, but it shall not last.

8:16  He is green before the sun, and his shoots go forth over his garden.

8:17  [Godless] his roots are wrapped about the [stone] heap, and see their way [promisingly] among the rocks.

8:18  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].

8:19  See, this is the joy of going the way [of the ungodly]! And from the dust others will spring up [to take his place].

8:20  Behold, as surely as God will never uphold wrongdoers, He will never cast away a blameless man.

8:21  He will yet fill your mouth with laughter [Job] and your lips with joyful shouting.

8:22  Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tents of the wicked shall be no more.