| Chapter 8 |
1 | Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
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2 | 'How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
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3 | Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
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4 | If your children have sinned against him, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience;
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5 | If you want to seek God diligently, Make your supplication to the Almighty.
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6 | If you were pure and upright, Surely now he would awaken for you, And make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
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7 | Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would greatly increase.
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8 | 'Please inquire of past generations, Find out about the learning of their fathers.
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9 | (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days on earth are a shadow.)
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10 | Shall they not teach you, tell you, And utter words out of their heart?
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11 | 'Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?
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12 | While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, It withers before any other reed.
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13 | So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish,
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14 | Whose confidence shall break apart, Whose trust is a spider's web.
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15 | He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.
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16 | He is green before the sun, His shoots go forth over his garden.
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17 | His roots are wrapped around the rock pile, He sees the place of stones.
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18 | If he is destroyed from his place, Then it shall deny him, saying, 'I have not seen you.'
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19 | Behold, this is the joy of his way: Out of the earth shall others spring.
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20 | 'Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers.
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21 | He will still fill your mouth with laughter, Your lips with shouting.
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22 | Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more.'
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