1 T hen Bildad the Shuhite answered,

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

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

“How long will you speak these things, And the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?

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

Does God subvert judgment? Or does the Almighty pervert justice?

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

If your sons have sinned against Him, He has cast them away for their transgression.

5 I f you will look for God and pray to the All-powerful,

If you would earnestly seek God And make your supplication to the Almighty,

6 i f 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.

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

7 A nd even if your beginning was small, your end will be very great.

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

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

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

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

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

10 W ill they not teach you and tell you, and speak words of wisdom?

Will they not teach you and tell you, And utter words from their heart?

11 “ Can the tall river grass grow up from dry ground? Can the grass that grows in wet places grow without water?

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

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

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

13 S o are the ways of all who forget God. The hope of the man without God is destroyed.

So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish,

14 W hat he trusts in is easy to break, like the home of a spider.

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

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

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

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

He grows green in the sun, And his branches spread out in his garden.

17 H is roots grow around rocks and they work their way among the stones.

His roots wrap around the rock heap, And look for a place in the stones.

18 I f he is taken from his place, then it will turn away from him, saying, ‘I have never seen you.’

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

19 S ee, this is the joy of His way. And out of the dust others will come.

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

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

Behold, God will not cast away the blameless, Nor will He uphold the evildoers.

21 H e will yet make you laugh and call out with joy.

He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, And your lips with rejoicing.

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

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