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

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

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 speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be 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, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.

5 i f thou would seek God early and make thy supplication to the Almighty,

If you want to seek God diligently, 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.

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

7 I n such a way that thy beginning would have been small, in comparison to the great increase of thy latter.

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;

“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 as a shadow.

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

10 S hall they not teach thee and tell thee and utter these words out of their heart?

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

11 C an the rush grow up without mire? Can the meadow grow without water?

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

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

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

14 F or his hope shall be cut off, 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 it fast, but it shall not endure.

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

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. His shoots go out along his garden.

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

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

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

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

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

20 ¶ Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man; neither will he help the evil doers.

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

21 H e will yet fill thy mouth with laughing and thy lips with shouts of joy.

He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with 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 shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more.”