| Chapter 8 |
1 |
The Baldad the Suhite answered, and said: --
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2 |
How long wilt thou speak these things, and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind? --
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3 |
Doth God pervert judgment, or doth the Almighty overthrow that which is just? --
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4 |
Although thy children have sinned against him, and he hath left them in the hand of their iniquity: --
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5 |
Yet if thou wilt arise early to God, and wilt beseech the Almighty: --
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6 |
If thou wilt walk clean and upright, he will presently awake onto thee, and will make the dwelling of thy justice peaceable: --
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7 |
Insomuch, that if thy former things were small, thy latter things would be multiplied exceedingly. --
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8 |
For inquire of the former generation, and search diligently into the memory of the fathers: --
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9 |
(For we are but of yesterday, and are ignorant that our days upon earth are but a shadow:) --
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10 |
And they shall teach thee: they shall speak to thee, and utter words out of their hearts. --
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11 |
Can the rush be green without moisture? or a sedge-bush grow without water? --
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12 |
When it is yet in flower, and is not plucked up with the hand, it withereth before all herbs. --
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13 |
Even so are the ways of all that forget God, and the hope of the hypocrite shall perish: --
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14 |
His folly shall not please him, and his trust shall be like the spider's web. --
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15 |
He shall lean upon his house, and it shall not stand: he shall prop it up, and it shall not rise: --
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16 |
He seemeth to have moisture before the sun cometh, and at his rising his blossom shall shoot forth. --
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17 |
His roots shall be thick upon a heap of stones, and among the stones he shall abide. --
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18 |
If one swallow him up out of his place, he shall deny him, and shall say: I know thee not. --
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19 |
For this is the joy of his way, that others may spring again out of the earth. --
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20 |
God will not cast away the simple, nor reach out his hand to the evildoer: --
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21 |
Until thy mouth be filled with laughter, and thy lips with rejoicing. --
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22 |
They that hate thee, shall be clothed with confusion: and the dwelling of the wicked shall not stand. --
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