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 speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

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

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

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 delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.

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

If you want to seek God diligently, make your supplication to the Almighty.

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 were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.

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

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

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

“Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.

9 F or 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 on earth are a shadow.)

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

Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?

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

“Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes 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 yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.

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

So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish,

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

Whose confidence shall break apart, Whose trust is a spider’s web.

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

He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.

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

He is green before the sun. His shoots go out along his garden.

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

His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones.

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

If he is destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’

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

Behold, this is the joy of his way: out of the earth, others shall spring.

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

“Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.

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

He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.

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 shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more.”