Bildad's First Response To Job
4 "If your children sin against him, he'll make them a prisoner of their sins.
4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;
4 “(C)If your sons sinned against Him,Then He delivered them into the (c)power of their transgression.
4 Since your children sinned against Him,He gave them over to their rebellion.
4 “If your children have sinned against Him,Then He has handed them over to the power of their transgression and punished them.
6 if you are clean and upright, surely then, he'll act on your behalf and restore your rightful place.
6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
6 If you are pure and upright,Surely now (E)He would rouse Himself for youAnd restore your righteous (e)(F)estate.
6 if you are pure and upright,then He will move even now on your behalfand restore the home where your righteousness dwells.(G)
6 Then, if you are pure and upright,Surely now He will awaken for youAnd restore your righteous place.
Learn From Past Generations
8 "Inquire of the previous generation, won't you please? Consider what their forefathers searched out.
8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
8 “Inquire, please, of past generations,And consider and apply yourself to the things searched out by their fathers.
9 Because we are of yesterday and we know nothing, for our time on earth is only a shadow.
9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)
9 “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 Won't they instruct you, and tell you, and bring out words from the heart?
10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
10 “Will they not teach you and tell you,And bring forth words from their minds?
10 Will they not teach you and tell youand speak from their understanding?
10 “Will they (the fathers) not teach you and tell you,And utter words from their hearts [the deepest part of their nature]?
God Does Not Punish The Innocent Person
11 "Can papyrus grow where there's no marsh? Can reeds flourish without water?
11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?Can the rushes grow without water?
11 Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh?Do reeds flourish without water?
11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?Can the rushes or reed grass grow without water?
12 While they are still green and not yet ready to be harvested, they wither before any plant.
12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
12 While still uncut shoots,they would dry up quicker than any other plant.
12 “While it is still green (in flower) and not cut down,Yet it withers before any other plant [when without water].
15 He leans against his house, but it won't stand; he grabs hold of it firmly, but it doesn't last.
15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
15 “He (h)trusts in his (M)house, but it does not stand;He holds fast to it, but it does not endure.
15 He leans on his web, but it doesn’t stand firm.He grabs it, but it does not hold up.
15 “He trusts in his house, but it does not stand;He holds tightly to it, but it does not endure.
16 He is a fresh sapling planted in the sunlight, spreading out its branches over its garden.
16 He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
16 He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine;his shoots spread out over his garden.
16 “He thrives and prospers [like a green plant] before the sun,And his branches spread out over his garden.
17 Its roots weave around a pile of stones, seeking to entrench itself among the rocks.
17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.
17 His roots are intertwined around a pile of rocks.He looks for a home among the stones.
17 “His [godless] roots are wrapped around a pile of rocks,And he gazes at a house of stones.
19 "Indeed, this is the benefit of God's way: from the soil other plants will sprout.
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
19 Surely this is the joy of his way of life;yet others will sprout from the dust.
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].
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will no longer exist.
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.
22 “Those who hate you will be (V)clothed with shame,And the (W)tent of the wicked will be no longer.”
22 “Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,And the tents of the wicked will be no longer.”