8
Bildad Says God Rewards the Good
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,
2 “How long will you say these things?
And will 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,
Then He has handed them over to the power of their transgression and punished them.
5 “If you would [diligently] seek God
And implore the compassion and favor of the Almighty,
6 Then, if you are pure and upright,
Surely now He will awaken for you
And restore your righteous place.
7 “Though your beginning was insignificant,
Yet your end will greatly increase.
8 “Inquire, please, of past generations,
And consider and apply yourself to the things searched out by their fathers.
9 “For we are only of yesterday and know nothing,
Because our days on earth are [like] a shadow [just a breath or a vapor].
10 “Will they (the fathers) not teach you and tell you,
And utter words from their hearts [the deepest part of their nature]?
11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can the rushes or reed grass grow without water?
12 “While it is still green (in flower) and not cut down,
Yet it withers before any other plant [when without water].
13 “So are the paths of all who forget God;
And the hope of the godless will perish,
14 For his confidence is fragile and breaks,
And his trust is [like] a spider’s web.
15 “He trusts in his house, but it does not stand;
He holds tightly to it, but it does not endure.
16 “He thrives and prospers [like a green plant] before the sun,
And his branches spread out over his garden.
17 “His [godless] roots are wrapped around a pile of rocks,
And he gazes at a house of stones.
18 “If he is snatched from his place [in the garden],
Then his place will forget him, saying, ‘I have never seen you.’
19 “Behold, this is the joy of His way;
And from out of the dust others will spring up and grow [to take his place].
20 “Behold, God will not reject a man of integrity,
Nor will He strengthen or support evildoers.
21 “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
And your lips with joyful shouting [if you are found blameless].
22 “Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,
And the tents of the wicked will be no longer.”