Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Job 8
Bildad: Does God Pervert Justice?
Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
“How long will you speak these things,
and the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
Does God pervert justice?
Does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
If your children sinned against him,
he gave them into the hand of their transgression.
If you would earnestly seek God
and plead with the Almighty,
if you were pure and upright,
surely now he would awaken for you
and restore your righteous dwelling.
Though your beginning was small,
your latter days would become very great.
Ask the Former Generation
For please ask the former generation,
and establish yourself upon what their ancestors searched out.
For we are of yesterday and know nothing,
for our days on earth are a shadow.
Will they not teach you and speak to you
and bring out words from their heart?
Can Papyrus Grow Without a Marsh?
Can papyrus grow without a marsh?
Can reeds flourish without water?
While still green and not cut,
they dry up before any other plant.
So are the paths of everyone who forget God;
the hope of the godless will perish.
His confidence is cut off,
and what he trusts is a spider’s house.
He leans upon his house, but it does not stand;
he holds fast to it, but it does not endure.
God Will Not Reject the Blameless
He is green before the sun,
and his shoots spread over his garden.
His roots wrap around a stone heap;
he sees a house of stones.
If he is uprooted from his place,
it denies him, saying,
‘I have never seen you.’
Look, this is the joy of his way,
and from the dust others sprout.
Look, God will not reject a blameless person,
and he will not strengthen the hand of evildoers.
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
and your lips with a shout of joy.
People who hate you will be clothed with shame,
and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”