Job 8

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,	1 Bildad the Shuhite spoke out and said:
2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?	2 How long will you utter such things? The words from your mouth are like a mighty wind!
3 Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?	3 Does God pervert judgment, and does the Almighty distort justice?
4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;	4 If your children have sinned against him and he has left them in the grip of their guilt,
5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;	5 Still, if you yourself have recourse to God and make 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.	6 Should you be blameless and upright, surely now he will awake for you and restore your rightful domain;
7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.	7 Your former state will be of little moment, for in time to come you will flourish indeed.
8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:	8 If you inquire of the former generations, and give heed to the experience of the fathers
9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)	9 (As we are but of yesterday and have no knowledge, because our days on earth are but a shadow),
10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?	10 Will they not teach you and tell you and utter their words of understanding?
11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?	11 Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the reed grass flourish without water?
12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.	12 While it is yet green and uncut, it withers quicker than any grass.
13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:	13 So is the end of everyone who forgets God, and so shall the hope of the godless man perish.
14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.	14 His confidence is but a gossamer thread and his trust is 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.	15 He shall rely upon his family, but it shall not last; he shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.
16 He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.	16 He is full of sap before sunrise, and beyond his garden his shoots go forth;
17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.	17 About a heap of stones are his roots entwined; among the rocks he takes hold.
18 If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.	18 Yet if one tears him from his place, it will disown him: "I have never seen you!"
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.	19 There he lies rotting beside the road, and out of the soil another sprouts.
20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:	20 Behold, God will not cast away the upright; neither will he take the hand of the wicked.
21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.	21 Once more will he fill your mouth with laughter, 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.	22 They that hate you shall be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked shall be no more.