[1] Then answered Bildad the Shuhite and said: [2] "How long wilt thou speak these things? And how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind? [3] Doth God pervert judgment? Or doth the Almighty pervert justice? [4] If thy children have sinned against Him and He have cast them away for their transgression, [5] if thou wouldest seek unto God speedily and make thy supplication to the Almighty, [6] if thou wert pure and upright, surely now He would awake for thee and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. [7] Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. [8] "For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself for the searching of their fathers; [9] for we are but of yesterday and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow. [10] Shall not they teach thee and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart? [11] Can the rush grow up without mire? Can the reed grow without water? [12] Whilst it is yet in his greenness and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb. [13] So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish, [14] whose hope shall be cut off and whose trust shall be a spider's web. [15] He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand; he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure. [16] He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden. [17] His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones. [18] If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, 'I have not seen thee.' [19] Behold, this is the joy of His way, and out of the earth shall others grow. [20] "Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will He help the evildoers, [21] till He fill thy mouth with laughing and thy lips with rejoicing. [22] They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame, and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought."
