Bildad: Job Should Repent
1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
3Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
4If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;
5If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
8For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
9(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)
10Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
11Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
12Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
13So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:
14Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.
15He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
16He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
17His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.
18If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.
19Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
20Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
21Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
22They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Bildad: Job Should Repent
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
2 “How long will you speak these things? Shall 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, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.
5 If you want to seek God diligently, make your supplication to the Almighty.
6 If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
7 Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.
8 “Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.
9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.)
10 Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?
11 “Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?
12 While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.
13 So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish,
14 Whose confidence shall break apart, Whose trust is a spider’s web.
15 He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.
16 He is green before the sun. His shoots go forth over his garden.
17 His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones.
18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way: out of the earth, others shall spring.
20 “Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.
21 He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.
22 Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more.”
Bildad: Job Should Repent
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2 “How long will you go on saying such things?
The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
3 Does God pervert justice?
Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4 When your children sinned against Him,
He gave them over to their rebellion.
5 But if you would earnestly seek God
and ask the Almighty for mercy,
6 if you are pure and upright,
even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf
and restore your righteous estate.
7 Though your beginnings were modest,
your latter days will flourish.
8 Please inquire of past generations
and consider the discoveries of their fathers.
9 For we were born yesterday and know nothing;
our days on earth are but a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you,
and speak from their understanding?
11 Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh?
Do reeds flourish without water?
12 While the shoots are still uncut,
they dry up quicker than grass.
13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God;
so the hope of the godless will perish.
14 His confidence is fragile;
his security is in a spider’s web.
15 He leans on his web, but it gives way;
he holds fast, but it does not endure.
16 He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine,
spreading its shoots over the garden.
17 His roots wrap around the rock heap;
he looks for a home among the stones.
18 If he is uprooted from his place,
it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’
19 Surely this is the joy of his way;
yet others will spring from the dust.
20 Behold, God does not reject the blameless,
nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter,
and your lips with a shout of joy.
22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame,
and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
Bildad: Job Should Repent
1And Bildad the Shuhite answereth and saith: --
2Till when dost thou speak these things? And a strong wind -- sayings of thy mouth?
3Doth God pervert judgment? And doth the Mighty One pervert justice?
4If thy sons have sinned before Him, And He doth send them away, By the hand of their transgression,
5If thou dost seek early unto God, And unto the Mighty makest supplication,
6If pure and upright thou art, Surely now He waketh for thee, And hath completed The habitation of thy righteousness.
7And thy beginning hath been small, And thy latter end is very great.
8For, ask I pray thee of a former generation, And prepare to a search of their fathers,
9(For of yesterday we are, and we know not, For a shadow are our days on earth.)
10Do they not shew thee -- speak to thee, And from their heart bring forth words?
11'Doth a rush wise without mire? A reed increase without water?
12While it is in its budding -- uncropped, Even before any herb it withereth.
13So are the paths of all forgetting God, And the hope of the profane doth perish,
14Whose confidence is loathsome, And the house of a spider his trust.
15He leaneth on his house -- and it standeth not: He taketh hold on it -- and it abideth not.
16Green he is before the sun, And over his garden his branch goeth out.
17By a heap his roots are wrapped, A house of stones he looketh for.
18If one doth destroy him from his place, Then it hath feigned concerning him, I have not seen thee!
19Lo, this is the joy of his way, And from the dust others spring up.'
20Lo, God doth not reject the perfect, Nor taketh hold on the hand of evil doers.
21While he filleth with laughter thy mouth, And thy lips with shouting,
22Those hating thee do put on shame, And the tent of the wicked is not!
Bildad's First Response
¹Then Bildad* the Shuchite answered and said:
Divine Justice
²Until when will you speak these things, and the words of your mouth be a mighty wind? ³Does El pervert mishpat, or does Shaddai pervert tzedek? ⁴If your children sinned against Him, then He sent them away by the hand of their transgression.
Call to Repentance
⁵If you would earnestly seek El and unto Shaddai make supplication, ⁶if pure and upright you are, surely now He would arise over you and restore the habitation of your righteousness. ⁷And though your beginning was small, your end would greatly increase.
Wisdom of the Ancients
⁸For inquire now of the former generation, and establish yourself to the searching of their fathers. ⁹For we are yesterday and know not, for our days upon earth are a shadow. ¹⁰Will they not teach you, speak to you, and from their hearts bring forth words?
Natural Analogies
¹¹Does papyrus grow without marsh? Does reed-grass grow without water? ¹²While still in its greenness, not being cut down, before all grass it withers. ¹³So are the paths of all forgetting El, and the hope of the impious shall perish. ¹⁴Whose confidence is cut off, and whose trust is a spider's house*. ¹⁵He leans upon his house, but it does not stand; he grasps it, but it does not endure.
Contrast of the Righteous and Wicked
¹⁶He is moist before the sun, and over his garden his shoots go forth. ¹⁷Over a heap his roots are entwined; he beholds a house of stones. ¹⁸If one swallows him up from his place, then it denies him: "I have not seen you." ¹⁹Behold, this is the joy of his way, and from the dust others spring forth.
Final Declaration
²⁰Behold, El will not reject the blameless, and He will not strengthen the hand of evildoers. ²¹Until He fills your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouting*, ²²those hating you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.
Footnotes:
- Bildad: Name means "Bel has loved," suggesting possible Babylonian origins
- mishpat: Divine justice and righteous judgment
- tzedek: Righteousness in its fullest covenantal sense
- spider's house: Hebrew idiom for extreme fragility and impermanence
- shouting: terua - joyous shouting, often associated with victory celebration
Bildad Challenges Job's Understanding
¹ Then Bildad from Shuah* spoke up, his words sharp with certainty: ² “How long will you keep speaking such empty words? Your arguments are like a mighty wind—full of sound but lacking substance. ³ Does God distort justice*? Does the Almighty twist what is right? ⁴ When your children sinned against Him, He delivered them over to the penalty of their transgressions*.
The Wisdom of the Ancients
⁵ But if you would earnestly seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy, ⁶ if you were truly pure and upright, He would surely arise on your behalf and restore you to your rightful place*. ⁷ Though your beginnings were modest, your future would flourish beyond measure.
⁸ “Just inquire of the previous generations and consider the wisdom our ancestors discovered*. ⁹ For we are but yesterday’s children and know so little; our days on earth pass like fleeting shadows. ¹⁰ Won’t they instruct you with their understanding and share the insights stored in their hearts?
Nature's Lessons About Divine Justice
¹¹ Can papyrus grow tall without a marsh? Can reeds flourish without water*? ¹² Even while still green, before they are cut down, they wither faster than any other plant. ¹³ Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the Godless*. ¹⁴ Their confidence is as fragile as a spider’s web, ¹⁵ they lean on their house, but it collapses; they cling to it, but it crumbles away.
The Contrast Between the Righteous and Wicked
¹⁶ The Godless may flourish like a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots through the garden*. ¹⁷ Its roots may weave around the rocks and seek life between the stones. ¹⁸ But when it is torn from its place, that place disowns it, saying, ‘I never knew you.’ ¹⁹ Such is the ‘joy’ of the wicked path—and from the dust, others will spring up*.
Bildad's Final Appeal
²⁰ Behold! God will not reject the blameless person, nor will He strengthen the hands of evildoers*. ²¹ He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. ²² Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tents of the wicked will vanish.”
Footnotes:
*8:1 - Bildad was one of Job's three friends, representing traditional wisdom but lacking true understanding.
*8:3 - A rhetorical question assuming God's justice is mechanically predictable.
*8:4 - Bildad cruelly suggests Job's children died because of their own sins.
*8:6 - Reflects the common belief that righteousness automatically leads to prosperity.
*8:8 - Ancient Near Eastern culture highly valued traditional wisdom passed down through generations.
*8:11 - Uses natural imagery to argue that prosperity depends on proper conditions, implying righteousness.
*8:13 - Bildad equates suffering with divine punishment and godlessness.
*8:16 - The metaphor of a flourishing plant is used ironically to describe temporary success.
*8:19 - Suggests the wicked are easily replaced and forgotten.
*8:20 - Summarizes Bildad's overly simplistic view of divine justice.
