1 T hen Bildad the Shuhite answered,

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

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 the words of your mouth be a strong wind?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For we are only of yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are as a shadow.

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

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

11 “ Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the rushes 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 “ While it is still green and not cut down, Yet it withers before any other plant.

While it is still green and not cut, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant.

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. The hope of the man without God is destroyed.

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

What he trusts in is easy to break, like the home of a spider.

15 “ He trusts in his house, but it does not stand; He holds fast to it, but it does not endure.

The spider trusts in his house, but it falls apart. He holds on to it, but it does not hold.

16 “ He thrives before the sun, And his shoots spread out over his garden.

He is full of strength in the sunshine, and his branches spread out over his garden.

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

His roots grow around rocks and they work their way among the stones.

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

If he is taken from his place, then it will turn away from him, saying, ‘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 His way. And out of the dust others will come.

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

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

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

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

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