Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.

Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?

If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;

When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.

If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,

If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

if you are pure and upright, even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf and restore your righteous estate.

Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish.

For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:

Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.

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

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

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

Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding?

Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?

Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?

Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass.

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:

Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.

Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web.

His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.

He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.

He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.

He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.

He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.

His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.

His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones.

If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.

If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’

Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.

Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:

Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.

Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.

They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.

Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”