1 T hen answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

2 H ow long wilt thou speak these things? And how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a mighty wind?

3 D oth God pervert justice? Or doth the Almighty pervert righteousness?

4 I f thy children have sinned against him, And he hath delivered them into the hand of their transgression;

5 I f thou wouldest seek diligently unto God, And make thy supplication to the Almighty;

6 I f thou wert pure and upright: Surely now he would awake for thee, And make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

7 A nd though thy beginning was small, Yet thy latter end would greatly increase.

8 F or 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 S hall not they teach thee, and tell thee, And utter words out of their heart?

11 C an the rush grow up without mire? Can the flag grow without water?

12 W hilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, It withereth before any other herb.

13 S o are the paths of all that forget God; And the hope of the godless man shall perish:

14 W hose confidence shall break in sunder, And whose trust is a spider's web.

15 H e shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: He shall hold fast thereby, but it shall not endure.

16 H e is green before the sun, And his shoots go forth over his garden.

17 H is roots are wrapped about the stone -heap, He beholdeth the place of stones.

18 I f he be destroyed from his place, Then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.

19 B ehold, this is the joy of his way; And out of the earth shall others spring.

20 B ehold, God will not cast away a perfect man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers.

21 H e will yet fill thy mouth with laughter, And thy lips with shouting.

22 T hey that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; And the tent of the wicked shall be no more.