1 ¶ Then Bildad, the Shuhite, answered and said,

Then answered Bildad the Shuhite,

2 H ow long wilt thou speak such 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 S hall God pervert that which is right or shall the Almighty pervert justice?

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

4 B ecause thy sons sinned against him, he cast them away in the place of their rebellion;

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

5 i f thou would seek God early 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 upon 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 I n such a way that thy beginning would have been small, in comparison to the great increase of thy latter.

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

8 ¶ Ask, I pray thee, of the former age, and be willing to enquire of thy fathers regarding them;

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

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

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

10 S hall they not teach thee and tell thee and utter these 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 meadow 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 its greenness and not cut down, it withers 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 F or his hope shall be cut off, and his trust is 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 L ike a tree, he is green before the sun, and his branches go forth over his garden;

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

17 h is roots weave themselves around a spring and secure themselves even in a stony place.

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

18 I f he is uprooted 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 from where he was transplanted, others shall grow.

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

20 ¶ Behold, 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 H e will yet fill thy mouth with laughing and thy lips with shouts of joy.

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

22 T hose 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.