Job 8

2How long wilt thou speak such things? The breath of thy mouth is profuse in words.

3Will the Lord in judging pass an unrighteous judgment? Or will He who made all things pervert justice?

4If thy children have sinned in His sight, He hath dismissed them for their transgression:

5But rise thou betimes and supplicate the Lord Almighty.

6If thou art pure and upright, He will hear thy prayer; and render to thee the reward of righteousness.

7Let thy beginning therefore be ever so small, thy end will be unspeakably great.

8For inquire of the former generation; and search diligently among the race of fathers;

9for we are but of yesterday and know nothing—for our life on the earth is but a shadow.

10Will not they teach thee, and declare; and from the heart utter these maxims:—

11Can the papyrus grow without water?

12Or can grass grow rank without drink? While grass is low it should not be mown. Before drinking doth not every herb wither?

14For his house shall be uninhabited: and his tent shall fly away like a spider’s web.

15Though he prop up his house, it cannot stand: Though he take hold of it, it will not abide,

16for is he somewhat green underneath the sun? Though a tender branch may start up from his rottenness; his bed is on a heap of stones:

17and can he live among flint stones?

18Should he wish to drink, the place will disappoint him. Hast thou not seen such things—that such is the catastrophe of the wicked?

19But out of the ground He will cause another to spring up:

20for the Lord will not cast off the innocent, nor from the ungodly accept a gift:

21but He will fill the mouth of the upright with laughter, and their lips with sons of thanksgiving:

22and their enemies shall be clothed with shame; and the dwellings of the wicked shall come to naught.