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 speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

3 D oes God subvert judgment? Or does the Almighty pervert justice?

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

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 delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.

5 I f you would earnestly seek God And make your supplication to the Almighty,

If you want to seek God diligently, make your supplication to the Almighty.

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

If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.

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

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

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

“Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.

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

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

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

Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?

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

“Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?

12 W hile it is yet green and not cut down, It withers before any other plant.

While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.

13 S o are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish,

So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish,

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

Whose confidence shall break apart, Whose trust is a spider’s web.

15 H e leans on his house, but it does not stand. He holds it fast, but it does not endure.

He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.

16 H e grows green in the sun, And his branches spread out in his garden.

He is green before the sun. His shoots go out along his garden.

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

His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones.

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

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

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

Behold, this is the joy of his way: out of the earth, others shall spring.

20 B ehold, God will not cast away the blameless, Nor will He uphold the evildoers.

“Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.

21 H e will yet fill your mouth with laughing, And your lips with rejoicing.

He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.

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 shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more.”