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 strong wind?

“How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

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

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

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

If your children have sinned against him, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.

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

If you want to seek God diligently, 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 awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.

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 greatly increase.

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

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

9 F or we are only of yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are as 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 speak words of wisdom?

Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of 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 mire? Can the rushes grow 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 in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.

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. The hope of the godless man shall perish,

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

Whose confidence shall break apart, 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 shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.

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

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

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

His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of 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 shall 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: out of the earth, others shall spring.

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 a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.

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

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

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