1 T hen answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

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 say these things, and the words of your mouth be a strong wind?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 ( For 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 they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

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

11 C an the rush grow up without mire? can the flag 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 hilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth 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 paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

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

14 W hose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be 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 it fast, but it shall not endure.

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 branch shooteth forth in 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 seeth the place of stones.

His roots grow around rocks and they work their way among 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 taken from his place, then it will turn away from him, saying, ‘I have never seen you.’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 dressed with shame. And the tent of the sinful will be no more.”