1 T hen answered Bildad the Shuhite,

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

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

“How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a strong wind?

3 D oes God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?

Does God make wrong what is fair? Does the All-powerful make wrong what is right?

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

If your children have sinned against Him, He has given them over to the power of their sin.

5 I f you will seek God diligently and make your supplication to the Almighty,

If you will look for God and pray to the All-powerful,

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

if you are pure and right and good, for sure He will help you. Because you are right and good He will put you back where you should be.

7 A nd though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.

And even if your beginning was small, your end will be very great.

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

“Ask about those who have lived before. Think about what their fathers learned.

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

For we are only of yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are as a shadow.

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

Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak words of wisdom?

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

“Can the tall river grass grow up from dry ground? Can the grass that grows in wet places grow without water?

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

While it is still green and not cut, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant.

13 S o are the ways of all who forget God; and the hope of the godless shall perish.

So are the ways of all who forget God. The hope of the man without God is destroyed.

14 F or his confidence breaks, and his trust is a spider’s web.

What he trusts in is easy to break, like the home of a spider.

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

The spider trusts in his house, but it falls apart. He holds on to it, but it does not hold.

16 H e is green before the sun, and his shoots go forth over his garden.

He is full of strength in the sunshine, and his branches spread out over his garden.

17 h is roots are wrapped about the heap, and see their way among the rocks.

His roots grow around rocks and they work their way among the stones.

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

If he is taken from his place, then it will turn away from him, saying, ‘I have never seen you.’

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

See, this is the joy of His way. And out of the dust others will come.

20 B ehold, as surely as God will never uphold wrongdoers, He will never cast away a blameless man.

See, God will not turn away from a man who is honest and faithful. And He will not help those who do wrong.

21 H e will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with joyful shouting.

He will yet make you laugh and call out with joy.

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

Those who hate you will be dressed with shame. And the tent of the sinful will be no more.”