Job 8
Job 8 is part of “First Cycle of Dialogue” (4–14) in the outline of Job.
Job 8 summary
Job's friends are like Job's messengers: the latter followed one another close with evil tidings, the former followed him with harsh censures: both, unawares, served Satan's design; these to drive him from his integrity, those to drive him from the comfort of it. Eliphaz did not reply to what Job had said in answer to him, but left it to Bildad, whom he knew to be of the same mind with himself in this affair. Those are not the wisest of the company, but the weakest rather, who covet to have all the talk. Let others speak in their turn, and let the first keep silence, Co1 14:30, Co1 14:31.
Read the full introduction
Job's friends are like Job's messengers: the latter followed one another close with evil tidings, the former followed him with harsh censures: both, unawares, served Satan's design; these to drive him from his integrity, those to drive him from the comfort of it. Eliphaz did not reply to what Job had said in answer to him, but left it to Bildad, whom he knew to be of the same mind with himself in this affair. Those are not the wisest of the company, but the weakest rather, who covet to have all the talk. Let others speak in their turn, and let the first keep silence, Co1 14:30, Co1 14:31. Eliphaz had undertaken to show that because Job was sorely afflicted he was certainly a wicked man. Bildad is much of the same mind, and will conclude Job a wicked man unless God do speedily appear for his relief. In this chapter he endeavours to convince Job, I. That he had spoken too passionately (Job 8:2). II. That he and his children had suffered justly (Job 8:3, Job 8:4). III. That, if he were a true penitent, God would soon turn his captivity (Job 8:5-7). IV. That it was a usual thing for Providence to extinguish the joys and hopes of wicked men as his were extinguished; and therefore that they had reason to suspect him for a hypocrite (Job 8:8-19). V. That they would be abundantly confirmed in their suspicion unless God did speedily appear for his relief (Job 8:20-22).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Job 8 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
Bildad's First Speech: God Is Just
1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and saide, 2Howe long wilt thou talke of these things? and howe long shall the wordes of thy mouth be as a mightie winde? 3Doeth God peruert iudgement? or doeth the Almightie subuert iustice? 4If thy sonnes haue sinned against him, and he hath sent them into the place of their iniquitie, 5Yet if thou wilt early seeke vnto God, and pray to the Almightie, 6If thou be pure and vpright, then surely hee will awake vp vnto thee, and he wil make the habitation of thy righteousnesse prosperous. 7And though thy beginning be small, yet thy latter ende shall greatly encrease. 8Inquire therefore, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thy selfe to search of their fathers. 9(For we are but of yesterday, and are ignorant: for our dayes vpon earth are but a shadowe) 10Shall not they teach thee and tell thee, and vtter the wordes of their heart? 11Can a rush grow without myre? or can ye grasse growe without water? 12Though it were in greene and not cutte downe, yet shall it wither before any other herbe. 13So are the paths of al that forget God, and the hypocrites hope shall perish. 14His confidence also shalbe cut off, and his trust shalbe as the house of a spyder. 15He shall leane vpon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall holde him fast by it, yet shall it not endure. 16The tree is greene before the sunne, and the branches spread ouer the garden thereof. 17The rootes thereof are wrapped about the fountaine, and are folden about ye house of stones. 18If any plucke it from his place, and it denie, saying, I haue not seene thee, 19Beholde, it will reioyce by this meanes, that it may growe in another molde. 20Behold, God will not cast away an vpright man, neither will he take the wicked by the hand, 21Till he haue filled thy mouth with laughter, and thy lippes with ioy. 22They that hate thee, shall be clothed with shame, and the dwelling of the wicked shall not remaine.