Bildad: Job Should Repent 1 UDB Then Bildad, from the Shuah area, spoke to Job. He said, BSB BSB: Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2 UDB "Job, how much longer will you talk like this? What you say is as useless as a big wind. BSB BSB: “How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
3 UDB Almighty God certainly never does anything unfairly. He always does what is right. BSB BSB: Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4 UDB Your children have sinned against him; this is evident because he has punished them for those evil things. BSB BSB: When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.
5 UDB But now, if only you will earnestly request Almighty God to help you! BSB BSB: But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,
6 UDB If only you were pure and honest! Then he will surely do something good for you and reward you by giving your family back to you and making you prosper. BSB BSB: if you are pure and upright, even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf and restore your righteous estate.
7 UDB Even though you were not very prosperous before, during the last stage of your life you would become very wealthy. BSB BSB: Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish.
8 UDB I request you to think about what happened long ago and to consider what our ancestors found out. BSB BSB: Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.
9 UDB It seems as though we were born only yesterday and we know very little; our time here on the earth disappears quickly, like a shadow that is here and then gone. BSB BSB: For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.
10 UDB So why not allow your ancestors to teach you anything? Let them tell you what they learned! BSB BSB: Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding?
11 UDB Papyrus certainly does not grow away from marshland; reeds certainly cannot grow where there is no water. BSB BSB: Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?
12 UDB If the water dries up while they are blossoming, they wither more quickly than any other plant. BSB BSB: While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up more quickly than grass.
13 UDB Those who do not pay attention to what God says are like those reeds; godless people stop confidently expecting that good things will happen to them. BSB BSB: Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
14 UDB The things they confidently expect to happen do not happen; things they trust will help them are as weak as a spider's web. BSB BSB: His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.
15 UDB If they think they will be safe because they are wealthy, they will not be safe; the things they think will keep them safe—those things will disappear. BSB BSB: He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.
16 UDB Godless people are like plants that are watered before the sun rises: their shoots spread all over the gardens. BSB BSB: He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.
17 UDB The roots of those plants twist around the piles of stones and cling tightly to the rocks. BSB BSB: His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones.
18 UDB But if a gardener pulls those plants out, it is as though the place where they were planted says, 'They were never here!' That is what happens to wicked people who do not pay attention to what God says. BSB BSB: If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’
19 UDB Truly, this is all the joy that evil people have: other people just come and take their places. BSB BSB: Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.
20 UDB So, I tell you, Job, God will not reject you if you honor him, but he does not help evil people. BSB BSB: Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.
21 UDB He will always enable you to laugh and to shout joyfully. BSB BSB: He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.
22 UDB But those who hate you will be very ashamed, and the homes of wicked people will disappear." BSB BSB: Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.