Add parallel Print Page Options

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

“How long will you speak these things?
    Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
Does God pervert justice?
    Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
If your children have sinned against him,
    he has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.
If you want to seek God diligently,
    make your 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.
    Though your beginning was small,
yet your latter end would greatly increase.

“Please inquire of past generations.
    Find out about the learning of their fathers.
(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing,
    because our days on earth are a shadow.)
10 Shall they not teach you, tell you,
    and utter words out of their heart?

11 “Can the papyrus grow up without mire?
    Can the rushes grow without water?
12 While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down,
    it withers before any other reed.
13 So are the paths of all who forget God.
    The hope of the godless man will perish,
14 whose confidence will break apart,
    whose trust is a spider’s web.
15 He will lean on his house, but it will not stand.
    He will cling to it, but it will not endure.
16 He is green before the sun.
    His shoots go out along his garden.
17 His roots are wrapped around the rock pile.
    He sees the place of stones.
18 If he is destroyed from his place,
    then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way.
    Out of the earth, others will spring.

20 “Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man,
    neither will he uphold the evildoers.
21 He will still fill your mouth with laughter,
    your lips with shouting.
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame.
    The tent of the wicked will be no more.”

Bildad Says God Rewards the Good

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,


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

“Does God pervert justice?
Or does [a]the Almighty pervert righteousness?

“If your children have sinned against Him,
Then He has handed them over to the power of their transgression and punished them.

“If you would [diligently] seek God
And implore the compassion and favor of the Almighty,

Then, if you are pure and upright,
Surely now He will awaken for you
And restore your righteous place.

“Though your beginning was insignificant,
Yet your end will greatly increase.


“Inquire, please, of past generations,
And consider and apply yourself to the things searched out by their fathers.

“For we are only of yesterday and know nothing,
Because our days on earth are [like] a shadow [just a breath or a vapor].
10 
“Will they (the fathers) not teach you and tell you,
And utter words from their hearts [the deepest part of their nature]?

11 
“Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can the rushes or reed grass grow without water?
12 
“While it is still green (in flower) and not cut down,
Yet it withers before any other plant [when without water].
13 
“So are the paths of all who forget God;
And the hope of the godless will perish,
14 
For his confidence is fragile and breaks,
And his trust is [like] a spider’s web.
15 
“He trusts in his house, but it does not stand;
He holds tightly to it, but it does not endure.
16 
“He thrives and prospers [like a green plant] before the sun,
And his branches spread out over his garden.
17 
“His [godless] roots are wrapped around a pile of rocks,
And he gazes at a house of stones.
18 
“If he is snatched from his place [in the garden],
Then his place will forget him, saying, ‘I have never seen you.’
19 
“Behold, this is the joy of His way;
And from out of the dust others will spring up and grow [to take his place].
20 
“Behold, God will not reject a man of integrity,
Nor will He strengthen or support evildoers.
21 
“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
And your lips with joyful shouting [if you are found blameless].
22 
“Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,
And the tents of the wicked will be no longer.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 8:3 Heb Shaddai.