Job 8 | New International Reader’s Version

New International Reader’s Version

The first speech of Bildad

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied, 2 ‘Job, how long will you talk like that? Your words don’t have any meaning. 3 Does God ever treat people unfairly? Does the Mighty One make what is wrong appear to be right? 4 Your children sinned against him. So he punished them for their sin. 5 But seek God with all your heart. Make your appeal to the Mighty One. 6 Be pure and honest. And he will rise up and help you now. He’ll give you everything you had before. 7 In the past, things went well with you. But in days to come, things will get even better. 8 ‘Find out what our parents taught. Discover what those who lived before them learned. 9 After all, we were born only yesterday. So we don’t know anything. Our days on this earth are like a shadow that disappears. 10 Won’t your people of long ago teach you and tell you? Won’t the things they said help you understand? 11 Can grass grow tall where there isn’t any swamp? Can plants grow well where there isn’t any water? 12 While they are still growing and haven’t been cut, they dry up faster than grass does. 13 The same thing happens to everyone who forgets God. The hope of ungodly people dies out. 14 What they trust in is very weak. What they depend on is like a spider’s web. 15 They lean on it, but it falls apart. They hold on to it, but it gives way. 16 They are like a plant in the sunshine that receives plenty of water. It spreads its new growth all over the garden. 17 It wraps its roots around a pile of rocks. It tries to find places to grow among the stones. 18 But when the plant is pulled up from its spot, that place says, “I never saw you.” 19 The life of that plant is sure to dry up. But from the same soil other plants will grow. 20 ‘I’m sure God doesn’t turn his back on anyone who is honest. And he doesn’t help those who do what is evil. 21 He will fill your mouth with laughter. Shouts of joy will come from your lips. 22 Your enemies will put on shame as if it were clothes. The tents of sinful people will be gone.’

English Standard Version

Bildad Speaks: Job Should Repent

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: (Job 2:11) 2 “How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind? (1Ki 19:11; Job 15:2) 3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right? (Ge 18:25; De 32:4; 2Ch 19:7; Ezr 9:15; Job 34:12; Da 9:14; Ro 3:5)

Ge 18:25De 32:42Ch 19:7Ezr 9:15Job 34:12Da 9:14Ro 3:5

4 If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression. (Job 1:5; Job 1:18) 5 If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy, (Job 9:15) 6 if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation. (Ps 7:6; Pr 3:33) 7 And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great. (Job 42:12; Jas 5:11) 8 “For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out. (De 4:32; De 32:7; Job 15:18) 9 For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow. (1Ch 29:15; Job 14:2; Job 17:7; Ps 102:11; Ps 109:23; Ps 144:4; Ec 6:12)

1Ch 29:15Job 14:2Job 17:7Ps 102:11Ps 109:23Ps 144:4Ec 6:12

10 Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding? 11 “Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water? 12 While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant. (Ps 37:2; Ps 129:6) 13 Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish. (Job 13:16; Job 15:34; Job 27:8; Ps 9:17; Pr 10:28; Pr 11:7)

Job 13:16Job 15:34Job 27:8Ps 9:17Pr 10:28Pr 11:7

14 His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider’s web.^[1] (Isa 59:5) 15 He leans against his house, but it does not stand; he lays hold of it, but it does not endure. (Job 27:18) 16 He is a lush plant before the sun, and his shoots spread over his garden. (Ps 80:11) 17 His roots entwine the stone heap; he looks upon a house of stones. 18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have never seen you.’ (Job 7:8; Job 7:10) 19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the soil others will spring. (1Sa 2:7; Ps 103:16; Ps 113:7) 20 “Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers. 21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting. (Ps 126:2) 22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.” (Ps 35:26; Ps 109:29; Ps 132:18)