1 A nd Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,

And Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,

2 H ow long wilt thou speak these things? and the words of thy mouth be a strong wind?

How long wilt thou speak these things? and the words of thy mouth be a strong wind?

3 D oth God pervert judgment, and the Almighty pervert justice?

Doth God pervert judgment, and the Almighty pervert justice?

4 I f thy children have sinned against him, he hath also given them over into the hand of their transgression.

If thy children have sinned against him, he hath also given them over into the hand of their transgression.

5 I f thou seek earnestly unto God, and make thy supplication to the Almighty,

If thou seek earnestly unto God, and make thy supplication to the Almighty,

6 I f thou be pure and upright, surely now he will awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous;

If thou be pure and upright, surely now he will awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous;

7 A nd though thy beginning was small, yet thine end shall be very great.

And though thy beginning was small, yet thine end shall be very great.

8 F or inquire, I pray thee, of the former generation, and attend to the researches of their fathers;

For inquire, I pray thee, of the former generation, and attend to the researches of their fathers;

9 F or we are of yesterday, and know nothing, for our days upon earth are a shadow.

For we are of yesterday, and know nothing, for our days upon earth are a shadow.

10 S hall not they teach thee, tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

Shall not they teach thee, tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

11 D oth the papyrus shoot up without mire? doth the reed-grass grow without water?

Doth the papyrus shoot up without mire? doth the reed-grass grow without water?

12 W hilst it is yet in its greenness not cut down, it withereth before any grass.

Whilst it is yet in its greenness not cut down, it withereth before any grass.

13 S o are the paths of all that forget God; and the profane man's hope shall perish,

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the profane man's hope shall perish,

14 W hose confidence shall be cut off, and his reliance is a spider's web.

Whose confidence shall be cut off, and his reliance is a spider's web.

15 H e shall lean upon his house, and it shall not stand; he shall lay hold on it, but it shall not endure.

He shall lean upon his house, and it shall not stand; he shall lay hold on it, but it shall not endure.

16 H e is full of sap before the sun, and his sprout shooteth forth over his garden;

He is full of sap before the sun, and his sprout shooteth forth over his garden;

17 H is roots are entwined about the stoneheap; he seeth the place of stones.

His roots are entwined about the stoneheap; he seeth the place of stones.

18 I f he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him: I have not seen thee!

If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him: I have not seen thee!

19 B ehold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the dust shall others grow.

Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the dust shall others grow.

20 B ehold, God will not cast off a perfect man, neither will he take evil-doers by the hand.

Behold, God will not cast off a perfect man, neither will he take evil-doers by the hand.

21 W hilst he would fill thy mouth with laughing and thy lips with shouting,

Whilst he would fill thy mouth with laughing and thy lips with shouting,

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

They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked be no more.