8:2 How long will you say these things, and how long will the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?
8:3 Does God give wrong decisions? or is the Ruler of all not upright in his judging?
8:4 If your children have done evil against him, then their punishment is from his hand.
8:5 If you will make search for God with care, and put your request before the Ruler of all;
8:6 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.
8:7 And though your start was small, your end will be very great.
8:8 Put the question now to the past generations, and give attention to what has been searched out by their fathers:
8:9 (For we are but of yesterday, and have no knowledge, because our days on earth are gone like a shade:)
8:10 Will they not give you teaching, and say words of wisdom to you?
8:11 Will the river-plant come up in its pride without wet earth? will the grass get tall without water?
8:12 When it is still green, without being cut down, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant.
8:13 So is the end of all who do not keep God in mind; and the hope of the evil-doer comes to nothing:
8:14 Whose support is cut off, and whose hope is no stronger than a spider's thread.
8:15 He is looking to his family for support, but it is not there; he puts his hope in it, but it comes to nothing.
8:16 He is full of strength before the sun, and his branches go out over his garden.
8:17 His roots are twisted round the stones, forcing their way in between them.
8:18 If he is taken away from his place, then it will say, I have not seen you.
8:19 Such is the joy of his way, and out of the dust another comes up to take his place.
8:20 Truly, God will not give up him who is without sin, and will not take evil-doers by the hand.
8:21 The time will come when your mouth will be full of laughing, and cries of joy will come from your lips.
8:22 Your haters will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the sinner will not be seen again.