1 T hen Bildad the Shuhite answered,

Then answered Bildad the Shuhite,

2 “ How long will you say these things, And the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

How long will you say these things ? And how long shall the words of your mouth be as a mighty wind?

3 “ Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?

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

4 “ If your sons sinned against Him, Then He delivered them into the power of their transgression.

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

5 “ If you would seek God And implore the compassion of the Almighty,

If you will seek God diligently and make your supplication to the Almighty,

6 I f you are pure and upright, Surely now He would rouse Himself for you And restore your righteous estate.

Then, if you are pure and upright, surely He will bestir Himself for you and make your righteous dwelling prosperous again.

7 “ Though your beginning was insignificant, Yet your end will increase greatly.

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

8 “ Please inquire of past generations, And consider the things searched out by their fathers.

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

9 “ For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, Because our days on earth are as a shadow.

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

10 “ Will they not teach you and tell you, And bring forth words from their minds?

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

11 “ Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the rushes grow without water?

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

12 “ While it is still green and not cut down, Yet it withers before any other plant.

While it is yet green, in flower, and not cut down, it withers before any other herb.

13 “ So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the godless will perish,

So are the ways of all who forget God; and the hope of the godless shall perish.

14 W hose confidence is fragile, And whose trust a spider’s web.

For his confidence breaks, and his trust is a spider’s web.

15 “ He trusts in his house, but it does not stand; He holds fast to it, but it does 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 “ He thrives before the sun, And his shoots spread out over his garden.

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

17 “ His roots wrap around a rock pile, He grasps a house of stones.

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

18 “ If he is removed from his place, Then it will deny him, saying, ‘ I never saw you.’

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

19 “ Behold, this is the joy of His way; And out of the dust others will spring.

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

20 “ Lo, God will not reject a man of integrity, Nor will He support the evildoers.

Behold, as surely as God will never uphold wrongdoers, He will never cast away a blameless man.

21 “ He will yet fill your mouth with laughter And your lips with shouting.

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

22 “ Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the tent of the wicked will be no longer.”

Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tents of the wicked shall be no more.