[1] Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said, [2] “How long will you say these things, And the words of your mouth be a mighty wind? [3] “Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right? [4] “If your sons sinned against Him, Then He sent them into the power of their transgression. [5] “If you would seek God earnestly And plead for the grace of the Almighty, [6] If you are pure and upright, Indeed now He would rouse Himself for you And make your righteous abode at peace. [7] “Though your beginning was insignificant, Yet your end will increase greatly. [8] “Please ask of past generations, And establish the things searched out by their fathers. [9] “For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, Because our days on earth are but a shadow. [10] “Will they not instruct you and tell you, And bring forth words from their hearts? [11] “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the rushes grow without water? [12] “While it is still green and not cut down, Yet it dries up before any other plant. [13] “So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the godless will perish, [14] Whose confidence is fragile, And whose trust a spider’s web. [15] “He relies on his house, but it does not stand; He holds fast to it, but it is not established. [16] “He thrives before the sun, And his shoots go forth over his garden. [17] “His roots wrap around a rock pile; He looks upon a house of stones. [18] “If He swallows him up from his place, Then it will deny him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’ [19] “Behold, this is the joy of His way; And out of the dust others will spring. [20] “Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, Nor will He strengthen the hand of the evildoers. [21] “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter And your lips with shouting. [22] “Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the tent of the wicked will be no longer.”
