1 T hen answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

Then answered Bildad the Shuhite,

2 H ow long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

How long will you say these things ? And how long shall the words of your mouth be as a mighty wind?

3 D oth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?

4 I f thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;

If your children have sinned against Him, then He has delivered them into the power of their transgression.

5 i f thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

If you will seek God diligently and make your supplication to the Almighty,

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

Then, if you are pure and upright, surely He will bestir Himself for you and make your righteous dwelling prosperous again.

7 T hough thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

And though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.

8 F or enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:

For inquire, I pray you, of the former age and apply yourself to that which their fathers have searched out,

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

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

10 s hall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

Shall not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their hearts (the deepest part of their nature)?

11 C an the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?

Can the rush or papyrus grow up without marsh? Can the flag or reed grass grow without water?

12 W hilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

While it is yet green, in flower, and not cut down, it withers before any other herb.

13 S o are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:

So are the ways of all who forget God; and the hope of the godless shall perish.

14 w hose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web.

For his confidence breaks, and his trust is a spider’s web.

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

He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand; he shall hold fast to it, but it shall not last.

16 H e is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.

He is green before the sun, and his shoots go forth over his garden.

17 H is roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.

his roots are wrapped about the heap, and see their way among the rocks.

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

But if snatches him from his property, it will forget and deny him, I have never seen you.

19 B ehold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

See, this is the joy of going the way! And from the dust others will spring up.

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

Behold, as surely as God will never uphold wrongdoers, He will never cast away a blameless man.

21 t ill he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with joyful shouting.

22 T hey that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.

Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tents of the wicked shall be no more.