[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 mighty wind? [3] Doth God pervert justice? Or doth the Almighty pervert righteousness? [4] If thy children have sinned against him, And he hath delivered them into the hand of their transgression; [5] If thou wouldest seek diligently unto God, 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] And though thy beginning was small, Yet thy latter end would greatly increase. [8] For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, And apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out [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 flag grow without water? [12] Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, It withereth before any other herb. [13] So are the paths of all that forget God; And the hope of the godless man shall perish: [14] Whose confidence shall break in sunder, And whose trust is a spider's web. [15] He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: He shall hold fast thereby, but it shall not endure. [16] He is green before the sun, And his shoots go forth over his garden. [17] His roots are wrapped about the stone-heap, He beholdeth the place of stones. [18] If he be destroyed 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 spring. [20] Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers. [21] He will yet fill thy mouth with laughter, And thy lips with shouting. [22] They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; And the tent of the wicked shall be no more.
