Job 8

1 Then [answered, spoke up] Bildad [one of Job’s friends, a confidant] the Shuhite [a descendant of Shuach, from the Shuah area] replied [responded, made answer, said]: word study 2 “How long will you go on saying [speaking, talking] such things [these words, these matters]? The words [utterances, sayings] of your mouth [lips, speech] are a blustering [strong, mighty] wind [a blast of air]. word study 3 Does God [the supreme Almighty, divine Strength] pervert [twist or corrupt] justice [righteous judgment, what is right]? Does the Almighty [Shadday, all-powerful] pervert [subvert or distort] what is right [righteousness, justice, moral integrity]? word study 4 When your children [sons, descendants, or offspring] sinned [missed the mark, went wrong, or rebelled] against Him [the Almighty, God], He gave [sent, delivered, or handed over] them over to their [own, personal] rebellion [transgression, disobedience, or revolt]. word study 5 But if [under these conditions] you would earnestly [diligently, with care] seek [to find, to search for] God [El, the all-powerful One] and ask [make supplication to, pray to] the Almighty [Shadday, the all-powerful Ruler] for mercy [to be gracious, to show kindness], word study 6 if you are [morally blameless, clean] pure and [straight, just] upright, even now [at this very moment, in this present time] He will [stir Himself, awaken] rouse Himself on your behalf [for your sake, in your favor] and [reestablish, bring back to a state of prosperity] restore your [right standing, virtuous] righteous estate [dwelling place, home]. word study 7 Though your beginnings [small, humble, from modest circumstances] were modest [little, of small account], your latter days [end, final outcome, what comes after] will flourish [increase greatly, become very prosperous, grow exceedingly]. word study 8 Please [I pray thee, kindly] inquire [ask, seek information] of past [former, previous] generations [a period of time, a group of people] and consider [apply thyself to, prepare thyself to search] the discoveries [learning, search, that which their fathers have searched out] of their fathers [ancestors, forefathers, the ones who came before]. word study 9 For we [as humans, created beings] were born yesterday [in a short time, recently] and know [have understanding, are aware of] nothing [no truth, little wisdom]; our days [time, lifespan] on earth [the land, physical world] are but [merely, only] a shadow [a dark image, fleeting moment]. word study 10 Will they [surely] not teach you [show you, guide you] and tell you [speak to you, utter words], and speak [utter words, express thoughts] from their understanding [heart, inner wisdom, intellect]? word study 11 Does papyrus [reed, a type of aquatic plant] grow where there is no [without, lacking] marsh [swamp, mire, wet earth]? Do reeds [flags, river-plants] flourish [grow, increase] without [in the absence of] water [the source of refreshment]? word study 12 While the shoots [in their greenness, still flowering] are still [yet, in their budding stage] uncut [not plucked, untouched], they dry up [wither, become dry] quicker [faster, more swiftly] than [before any other] grass [herb, plant, or leek]. word study 13 Such [so, thus, in this manner] is the destiny [path, way, journey] of all [everything, every person] who forget [are oblivious to, mislay] God [El, the strength and power of the universe]; so the hope [cord of expectancy, waiting for something to happen] of the godless [profane, hypocritical, without faith] will perish [be destroyed, lost, come to nothing]. word study 14 His confidence [trust, assurance, security] is fragile [easily broken, cut off]; his security [refuge, trust] is in a spider’s [insect that weaves a web] web [a network of threads, a fragile foundation]. word study 15 He leans [to support oneself, trust in] on his web [house, place of security], but it gives way [shall not stand]; he holds fast [to seize, conquer], but it does not endure [shall not rise, remain firm]. word study 16 He [the ungodly, a luxuriant plant] is a well-watered [fresh, green before the sun] plant in the sunshine [before the sun], spreading [his shoots go forth, his branch shooteth] its shoots [young sprouts, new growth] over the garden [a place of growth, a cultivated plot]. word study 17 His roots [twisted, interwoven] wrap around the rock heap [stone-heap, pile of stones]; he looks for a home [place, dwelling] among the stones [rocks, weights, or precious gems]. word study 18 If [under certain conditions, whether] he is uprooted [destroyed, swallowed up] from his place [location, position], it will disown [deny, reject] him, saying, ‘I never [not at all] saw [looked upon, knew] you [recognized your existence].’ word study 19 Surely [behold, look!] this is the joy [rejoicing, great delight] of his way [path, manner of life]; yet others [another, different ones] will spring [grow, come forth] from the dust [dry earth, clay]. word study 20 Behold [look, see], God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler] does not [will not, cannot] reject [spurn, cast away] the blameless [perfect, complete, morally pure], nor will He strengthen [uphold, support] the hand [power, direction] of evildoers [those who do evil, the wicked]. word study 21 He will yet [still, till that time] fill your mouth [the instrument of speech, expression] with laughter [joyful mockery, scorn], and your lips [the edge of the mouth, language] with a shout [loud cry, joyful sound] of joy [rejoicing, happiness]. word study 22 Your enemies [those who hate thee, foes] will be clothed [wrapped, covered] in shame [humiliation, guilt], and the tent [dwelling place, tabernacle] of the wicked [morally wrong, unrighteous] will be no more [come to nothing, destroyed].” word study