1 T hen answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

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 speak these things, And the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?

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

Does God subvert judgment? Or does the Almighty pervert justice?

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

If your sons have sinned against Him, He has cast them away for their transgression.

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

If you would earnestly seek God 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.

If you were pure and upright, Surely now He would awake for you, And prosper your rightful dwelling place.

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

Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.

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

“For inquire, please, of the former age, And consider the things discovered by their fathers;

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

For we were born yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days on earth are a shadow.

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

Will they not teach you and tell you, And utter words from their heart?

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

“Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the reeds flourish 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 and not cut down, It withers before any other plant.

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; And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish,

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

Whose confidence shall be cut off, And 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 leans on his house, but it does not stand. He holds it fast, but it does not endure.

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

He grows green in the sun, And his branches spread out in his garden.

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

His roots wrap around the rock heap, And look for a place in the stones.

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

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

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

“Behold, this is the joy of His way, And out of the earth others will grow.

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

Behold, God will not cast away the blameless, Nor will He uphold the evildoers.

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

He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, And your lips with rejoicing.

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 dwelling place of the wicked will come to nothing.”