1 T hen Bildad the Shuhite answered,

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

2 “ How long will you speak these things? Shall 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 D oes God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?

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

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

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

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

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 greatly increase.

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

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

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

9 ( For we are but of 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 S hall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?

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

11 “ Can the papyrus grow up without mire? 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 W hile it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.

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. The hope of the godless man 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 break apart, Whose trust is a spider’s web.

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

15 H e shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall 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 is green before the sun. His shoots go out along his garden.

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

17 H is roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of 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 shall 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 B ehold, this is the joy of his way: out of the earth, others shall spring.

See, this is the joy of His way. And out of the dust others will come.

20 “ Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither 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 still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.

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

22 T hose who hate you shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more.”

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