Job 8

11–19 In these verses, Bildad presents three images from nature that reveal the destiny of all who forget God (verse 13). First, godless people will wither like pa pyrus and reeds suddenly deprived of water²⁸ (verses 11–12). Second, what a godless person trusts in is no more reliable than a spider's web; he leans on it, but it gives way (verses 14–15). Third, a godless person is like a once-thriving plant torn from its spot . . . its life withers away (verses 16–19).

20–22 But, says Bildad, the blameless man will not suffer such a fate (verse 20). If Job will only appeal to God and confess his sin, God will once more fill [Job's] mouth with laughter (verse 21). Bildad's final words are theologically correct as far as they go, but they do not apply to Job's situation because Job's suffering is not the result of sin.