Job 8

“Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,” Naming Bildad and Shuhite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;” The line’s distinctive content terms include children, sinned, transgression. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;” Naming Almighty keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness…” The line’s distinctive content terms include awake, habitation, prosperous. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.” Naming Though keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)” The line’s distinctive content terms include days, earth, know. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.” Naming Whilst keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.” The line’s distinctive content terms include branch, garden, green. Its relationship to verses 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.” Naming His keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.” Naming Till keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.