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