1 T hen Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

2 “ How long will you speak these things, And the words of your 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 oes God subvert judgment? Or does the Almighty pervert justice?

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

4 I f your sons have sinned against Him, He has 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 you would earnestly seek God And make your supplication to the Almighty,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 W ill they not teach you and tell you, And utter words from their heart?

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

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

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 who forget God; And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish,

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

14 W hose confidence shall be cut off, And whose trust is a spider’s web.

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

15 H e leans on his house, but it does not stand. He holds it fast, 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 H e grows green in the sun, And his branches spread out in his garden.

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

17 H is roots wrap around the rock heap, And look for a place in the stones.

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

18 I f he is destroyed from his place, Then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen 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 earth others will 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 the blameless, Nor will He uphold 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 H e will yet fill your mouth with laughing, And your lips with rejoicing.

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

22 T hose who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the dwelling place of the wicked will come to nothing.”

Those who hate you will be dressed with shame. And the tent of the sinful will be no more.”