8:1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
8:1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

8:2 How long wilt thou speak these things? And (how long) shall the words of thy mouth be (like) a mighty wind?
8:2 "How long will you say these [things,] And the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

8:3 Doth God pervert justice? Or doth the Almighty pervert righteousness?
8:3 "Does God pervert justice Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?

8:4 If thy children have sinned against him, And he hath delivered them into the hand of their transgression;
8:4 "If your sons sinned against Him, Then He delivered them into the power of their transgression.

8:5 If thou wouldest seek diligently unto God, And make thy supplication to the Almighty;
8:5 "If you would seek God And implore the compassion of the Almighty,

8:6 If thou wert pure and upright: Surely now he would awake for thee, And make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
8:6 If you are pure and upright, Surely now He would rouse Himself for you And restore your righteous estate.

8:7 And though thy beginning was small, Yet thy latter end would greatly increase.
8:7 "Though your beginning was insignificant, Yet your end will increase greatly.

8:8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, And apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out:
8:8 "Please inquire of past generations, And consider the things searched out by their fathers.

8:9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days upon earth are a shadow);
8:9 "For we are [only] of yesterday and know nothing, Because our days on earth are as a shadow.

8:10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, And utter words out of their heart?
8:10 "Will they not teach you [and] tell you, And bring forth words from their minds?

8:11 Can the rush grow up without mire? Can the flag grow without water?
8:11 "Can the papyrus grow up without marsh? Can the rushes grow without water?

8:12 Whilst it is yet in its greenness, (and) not cut down, It withereth before any (other) herb.
8:12 "While it is still green [and] not cut down, Yet it withers before any [other] plant.

8:13 So are the paths of all that forget God; And the hope of the godless man shall perish:
8:13 "So are the paths of all who forget God, And the hope of the godless will perish,

8:14 Whose confidence shall break in sunder, And whose trust is a spider's web.
8:14 Whose confidence is fragile, And whose trust a spider's web.

8:15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: He shall hold fast thereby, but it shall not endure.
8:15 "He trusts in his house, but it does not stand; He holds fast to it, but it does not endure.

8:16 He is green before the sun, And his shoots go forth over his garden.
8:16 "He thrives before the sun, And his shoots spread out over his garden.

8:17 His roots are wrapped about the (stone)- heap, He beholdeth the place of stones.
8:17 "His roots wrap around a rock pile, He grasps a house of stones.

8:18 If he be destroyed from his place, Then it shall deny him, (saying), I have not seen thee.
8:18 "If he is removed from his place, Then it will deny him, [saying,] ' I never saw you. '

8:19 Behold, this is the joy of his way; And out of the earth shall others spring.
8:19 "Behold, this is the joy of His way; And out of the dust others will spring.

8:20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers.
8:20 "Lo, God will not reject [a man of] integrity, Nor will He support the evildoers.

8:21 He will yet fill thy mouth with laughter, And thy lips with shouting.
8:21 "He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, And your lips with shouting.

8:22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; And the tent of the wicked shall be no more.
8:22 "Those who hate you will be clothed with shame; And the tent of the wicked will be no more."