Chapter 8

  Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,  

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  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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  Doth God pervert judgment; or doth the Almighty pervert justice?  

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  If thy children have sinned against him, and he hath cast them away for their transgression;  

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  If thou wouldst seek to God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;  

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  If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.  

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  Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end would greatly increase.  

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  For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:  

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  (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)  

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  Will they not teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?  

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  Can the rush grow without mire? can the flag grow without water?  

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  Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.  

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  So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:  

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  Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.  

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  He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.  

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  He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.  

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  His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.  

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  If he shall destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.  

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  Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.  

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  Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:  

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  Till he shall fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.  

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  They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to naught.  

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