Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
“How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
How long wilt thou speak these things ? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.
If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;
If you want to seek God diligently, make your supplication to the Almighty.
If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.
Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
“Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.
For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.)
(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)
Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?
Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
“Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?
Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.
Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man will perish,
So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:
whose confidence will break apart, whose trust is a spider’s web.
Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.
He will lean on his house, but it will not stand. He will cling to it, but it will not endure.
He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
He is green before the sun. His shoots go out along his garden.
He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones.
His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.
If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’
If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying , I have not seen thee.
Behold, this is the joy of his way. Out of the earth, others will spring.
Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
“Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.
Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man , neither will he help the evil doers:
He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.
Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
Those who hate you will be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked will be no more.”
They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.