1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
3 Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;
5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
8 For enquire, 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:)
10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:
14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.
15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
16 He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.
18 If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.
1 Then answered H6030 Bildad H1085 the Shuhite, H7747 and said, H559
2 How H575 long H5704 wilt thou speak H4448 these things? and how long shall the words H561 of thy mouth H6310 be like a strong H3524 wind? H7307
3 Doth God H410 pervert H5791 judgment? H4941 or doth the Almighty H7706 pervert H5791 justice? H6664
4 If thy children H1121 have sinned H2398 against him, and he have cast them away H7971 for H3027 their transgression; H6588
5 If thou wouldest seek H7836 unto God H410 betimes, H7836 and make thy supplication H2603 to the Almighty; H7706
6 If thou wert pure H2134 and upright; H3477 surely now he would awake H5782 for thee, and make the habitation H5116 of thy righteousness H6664 prosperous. H7999
7 Though thy beginning H7225 was small, H4705 yet thy latter end H319 should greatly H3966 increase. H7685
8 For enquire, H7592 I pray thee, of the former H7223 H7223 age, H1755 and prepare H3559 thyself to the search H2714 of their fathers: H1
9 (For we are but of yesterday, H8543 and know H3045 nothing, because our days H3117 upon earth H776 are a shadow:) H6738
10 Shall not they teach H3384 thee, and tell H559 thee, and utter H3318 words H4405 out of their heart? H3820
11 Can the rush H1573 grow up H1342 without mire? H1207 can H7685 the flag H260 grow H7685 without H1097 water? H4325
12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, H3 and not cut down, H6998 it withereth H3001 before H6440 any other herb. H2682
13 So are the paths H734 of all that forget H7911 God; H410 and the hypocrite's H2611 hope H8615 shall perish: H6
14 Whose hope H3689 shall be cut off, H6990 and whose trust H4009 shall be a spider's H5908 web. H1004
15 He shall lean H8172 upon his house, H1004 but it shall not stand: H5975 he shall hold H2388 it fast, but it shall not endure. H6965
16 He is green H7373 before H6440 the sun, H8121 and his branch H3127 shooteth forth H3318 in his garden. H1593
17 His roots H8328 are wrapped about H5440 the heap, H1530 and seeth H2372 the place H1004 of stones. H68
18 If he destroy H1104 him from his place, H4725 then it shall deny H3584 him, saying, I have not seen H7200 thee.
19 Behold, this is the joy H4885 of his way, H1870 and out of the earth H6083 shall others H312 grow. H6779
20 Behold, God H410 will not cast away H3988 a perfect H8535 man, neither will he help H2388 H3027 the evil doers: H7489
21 Till he fill H4390 thy mouth H6310 with laughing, H7814 and thy lips H8193 with rejoicing. H8643
22 They that hate H8130 thee shall be clothed H3847 with shame; H1322 and the dwelling H168 place of the wicked H7563 shall come to nought. H369
1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 How long wilt thou speak these things? And `how long' shall the words of thy mouth be `like' a mighty wind?
3 Doth God pervert justice? Or doth the Almighty pervert righteousness?
4 If thy children have sinned against him, And he hath delivered them into the hand of their transgression;
5 If thou wouldest seek diligently unto God, And make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6 If thou wert pure and upright: Surely now he would awake for thee, And make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7 And though thy beginning was small, Yet thy latter end would greatly increase.
8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, And apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out:
9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days upon earth are a shadow);
10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, And utter words out of their heart?
11 Can the rush grow up without mire? Can the flag grow without water?
12 Whilst it is yet in its greenness, `and' not cut down, It withereth before any `other' herb.
13 So are the paths of all that forget God; And the hope of the godless man shall perish:
14 Whose confidence shall break in sunder, And whose trust is a spider's web.
15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: He shall hold fast thereby, but it shall not endure.
16 He is green before the sun, And his shoots go forth over his garden.
17 His roots are wrapped about the `stone' -heap, He beholdeth the place of stones.
18 If he be destroyed from his place, Then it shall deny him, `saying', I have not seen thee.
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way; And out of the earth shall others spring.
20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers.
21 He will yet fill thy mouth with laughter, And thy lips with shouting.
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; And the tent of the wicked shall be no more.
1 And Bildad the Shuhite answereth and saith: --
2 Till when dost thou speak these things? And a strong wind -- sayings of thy mouth?
3 Doth God pervert judgment? And doth the Mighty One pervert justice?
4 If thy sons have sinned before Him, And He doth send them away, By the hand of their transgression,
5 If thou dost seek early unto God, And unto the Mighty makest supplication,
6 If pure and upright thou `art', Surely now He waketh for thee, And hath completed The habitation of thy righteousness.
7 And thy beginning hath been small, And thy latter end is very great.
8 For, 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.)
10 Do 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?
12 While it `is' in its budding -- uncropt, Even before any herb it withereth.
13 So `are' the paths of all forgetting God, And the hope of the profane doth perish,
14 Whose confidence is loathsome, And the house of a spider his trust.
15 He leaneth on his house -- and it standeth not: He taketh hold on it -- and it abideth not.
16 Green he `is' before the sun, And over his garden his branch goeth out.
17 By a heap his roots are wrapped, A house of stones he looketh for.
18 If `one' doth destroy him from his place, Then it hath feigned concerning him, I have not seen thee!
19 Lo, this `is' the joy of his way, And from the dust others spring up.'
20 Lo, God doth not reject the perfect, Nor taketh hold on the hand of evil doers.
21 While he filleth with laughter thy mouth, And thy lips with shouting,
22 Those hating thee do put on shame, And the tent of the wicked is not!
1 And Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,
2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and the words of thy mouth be a strong wind?
3 Doth ùGod pervert judgment, and the Almighty pervert justice?
4 If thy children have sinned against him, he hath also given them over into the hand of their transgression.
5 If thou seek earnestly unto ùGod, and make thy supplication to the Almighty,
6 If thou be pure and upright, surely now he will awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous;
7 And though thy beginning was small, yet thine end shall be very great.
8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former generation, and attend to the researches of their fathers;
9 For we are [but] of yesterday, and know nothing, for our days upon earth are a shadow.
10 Shall not they teach thee, [and] tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
11 Doth the papyrus shoot up without mire? doth the reed-grass grow without water?
12 Whilst it is yet in its greenness [and] not cut down, it withereth before any [other] grass.
13 So are the paths of all that forget ùGod; and the profane man's hope shall perish,
14 Whose confidence shall be cut off, and his reliance is a spider's web.
15 He shall lean upon his house, and it shall not stand; he shall lay hold on it, but it shall not endure.
16 He is full of sap before the sun, and his sprout shooteth forth over his garden;
17 His roots are entwined about the stoneheap; he seeth the place of stones.
18 If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him: I have not seen thee!
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the dust shall others grow.
20 Behold, ùGod will not cast off a perfect man, neither will he take evil-doers by the hand.
21 Whilst he would fill thy mouth with laughing and thy lips with shouting,
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked be no more.
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 shall others spring.
20 "Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers.
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."
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite made answer and said,
2 How long will you say these things, and how long will the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?
3 Does God give wrong decisions? or is the Ruler of all not upright in his judging?
4 If your children have done evil against him, then their punishment is from his hand.
5 If you will make search for God with care, and put your request before the Ruler of all;
6 If you are clean and upright; then he will certainly be moved to take up your cause, and will make clear your righteousness by building up your house again.
7 And though your start was small, your end will be very great.
8 Put the question now to the past generations, and give attention to what has been searched out by their fathers:
9 (For we are but of yesterday, and have no knowledge, because our days on earth are gone like a shade:)
10 Will they not give you teaching, and say words of wisdom to you?
11 Will the river-plant come up in its pride without wet earth? will the grass get tall without water?
12 When it is still green, without being cut down, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant.
13 So is the end of all who do not keep God in mind; and the hope of the evil-doer comes to nothing:
14 Whose support is cut off, and whose hope is no stronger than a spider's thread.
15 He is looking to his family for support, but it is not there; he puts his hope in it, but it comes to nothing.
16 He is full of strength before the sun, and his branches go out over his garden.
17 His roots are twisted round the stones, forcing their way in between them.
18 If he is taken away from his place, then it will say, I have not seen you.
19 Such is the joy of his way, and out of the dust another comes up to take his place.
20 Truly, God will not give up him who is without sin, and will not take evil-doers by the hand.
21 The time will come when your mouth will be full of laughing, and cries of joy will come from your lips.
22 Your haters will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the sinner will not be seen again.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 8
Commentary on Job 8 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 8
FIRST SERIES—FIRST SPEECH OF BILDAD, MORE SEVERE
AND COARSE THAN THAT OF ELIPHAZ.
Job 8:1-22. The Address of Bildad.
2. like a … wind?—disregarding restraints, and daring against God.
3. The repetition of "pervert" gives an emphasis galling to Job (Job 34:12). "Wouldst thou have God," as thy words imply, "pervert judgment," by letting thy sins go unpunished? He assumes Job's guilt from his sufferings.
4. If—Rather, "Since thy children have sinned against Him, and (since) He has cast them away (Hebrew, by the hand of) for their transgressions, (yet) if thou wouldst seek unto God, &c., if thou wert pure, &c., surely [even] now He would awake for thee." Umbreit makes the apodosis to, "since thy children," &c., begin at "He has cast them away." Also, instead of "for," "He gave them up to (literally, into the hand of) their own guilt." Bildad expresses the justice of God, which Job had arraigned. Thy children have sinned; God leaves them to the consequence of their sin; most cutting to the heart of the bereaved father.
5. seek unto God betimes—early. Make it the first and chief anxiety (Ps 78:34; Ho 5:15; Isa 26:9; Pr 8:17; 13:24).
6. He would awake for thee—that is, arise to thy help. God seemed to be asleep toward the sufferer (Ps 35:23; 7:6; Isa 51:9).
make … prosperous—restore to prosperity thy (their) righteous habitation. Bildad assumes it to have been heretofore the habitation of guilt.
7. thy beginning—the beginning of thy new happiness after restoration.
latter end—(Job 42:12; Pr 23:18).
8, 9. The sages of the olden time reached an age beyond those of Job's time (see on Job 42:16), and therefore could give the testimony of a fuller experience.
9. of yesterday—that is, a recent race. We know nothing as compared with them because of the brevity of our lives; so even Jacob (Ge 47:9). Knowledge consisted then in the results of observation, embodied in poetical proverbs, and handed down by tradition. Longevity gave the opportunity of wider observation.
a shadow—(Ps 144:4; 1Ch 29:15).
10. teach thee—Job 6:24 had said, "Teach me." Bildad, therefore, says, "Since you want teaching, inquire of the fathers. They will teach thee."
utter words—more than mere speaking; "put forth well-considered words."
out of their heart—from observation and reflection; not merely, from their mouth: such, as Bildad insinuates, were Job's words. Job 8:11-13 embody in poetic and sententious form (probably the fragment of an old poem) the observation of the elders. The double point of comparison between the ungodly and the paper-reed is: 1. the luxuriant prosperity at first; and, 2. the sudden destruction.
11. rush—rather, "paper-reed": The papyrus of Egypt, which was used to make garments, shoes, baskets, boats, and paper (a word derived from it). It and the flag, or bulrush, grow only in marshy places (such as are along the Nile). So the godless thrives only in external prosperity; there is in the hypocrite no inward stability; his prosperity is like the rapid growth of water plants.
12. not cut down—Before it has ripened for the scythe, it withers more suddenly than any herb, having no self-sustaining power, once that the moisture is gone, which other herbs do not need in the same degree. So ruin seizes on the godless in the zenith of prosperity, more suddenly than on others who appear less firmly seated in their possessions [Umbreit] (Ps 112:10).
13. paths—so "ways" (Pr 1:19).
all that forget God—the distinguishing trait of the godless (Ps 9:17; 50:22).
14. cut off—so Gesenius; or, to accord with the metaphor of the spider's "house," "The confidence (on which he builds) shall be laid in ruins" (Isa 59:5, 6).
15. he shall hold it fast—implying his eager grasp, when the storm of trial comes: as the spider "holds fast" by its web; but with this difference: the light spider is sustained by that on which it rests; the godless is not by the thin web on which he rests. The expression, "Hold fast," properly applies to the spider holding his web, but is transferred to the man. Hypocrisy, like the spider's web, is fine-spun, flimsy, and woven out of its own inventions, as the spider's web out of its own bowels. An Arab proverb says, "Time destroys the well-built house, as well as the spider's web."
16. before the sun—that is, he (the godless) is green only before the sun rises; but he cannot bear its heat, and withers. So succulent plants like the gourd (Jon 4:7, 8). But the widespreading in the garden does not quite accord with this. Better, "in sunshine"; the sun representing the smiling fortune of the hypocrite, during which he wondrously progresses [Umbreit]. The image is that of weeds growing in rank luxuriance and spreading over even heaps of stones and walls, and then being speedily torn away.
17. seeth the place of stones—Hebrew, "the house of stones"; that is, the wall surrounding the garden. The parasite plant, in creeping towards and over the wall—the utmost bound of the garden—is said figuratively to "see" or regard it.
18. If He (God) tear him away (properly, "to tear away rapidly and violently") from his place, "then it [the place personified] shall deny him" (Ps 103:16). The very soil is ashamed of the weeds lying withered on its surface, as though it never had been connected with them. So, when the godless falls from prosperity, his nearest friends disown him.
19. Bitter irony. The hypocrite boasts of joy. This then is his "joy" at the last.
and out of the earth—others immediately, who take the place of the man thus punished; not godly men (Mt 3:9). For the place of the weeds is among stones, where the gardener wishes no plants. But, ungodly; a fresh crop of weeds always springs up in the place of those torn up: there is no end of hypocrites on earth [Umbreit].
20. Bildad regards Job as a righteous man, who has fallen into sin.
God will not cast away a perfect man—(or godly man, such as Job was), if he will only repent. Those alone who persevere in sin God will not help (Hebrew, "take by the hand," Ps 73:23; Isa 41:13; 42:6) when fallen.
21. Till—literally, "to the point that"; God's blessing on thee, when repentant, will go on increasing to the point that, or until, &c.
22. The haters of Job are the wicked. They shall be clothed with shame (Jer 3:25; Ps 35:26; 109:29), at the failure of their hope that Job would utterly perish, and because they, instead of him, come to naught.