1. Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:
2. “How long will you speak these things,
2. and the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?
3. Does God pervert judgment?
3. Or does the Almighty pervert justice?
4. If your children sinned against Him,
4. He cast them away for their transgression.
5. If you yourself would seek God earnestly,
5. and seek favor from the Almighty,
6. if you were pure and upright,
6. surely now He would rouse Himself on your behalf,
6. and He would prosper your righteous dwelling.
7. Though your beginning was small,
7. your end will increase greatly.
8. “Please, ask the former generation,
8. and prepare yourself for what their fathers searched out;
9. for we were born but yesterday and know nothing,
9. because our days on earth are a shadow.
10. Will they not teach you, and tell you,
10. and bring forth words out of their heart?
11. Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
11. Can the reed grow without water?
12. While it is yet green and not cut down,
12. it withers before any other plant.
13. So are the paths of all who forget God;
13. and the hypocrite’s hope will perish,
14. whose confidence will be cut off,
14. and whose trust will be a spider’s web.
15. He will lean upon his house, but it will not stand;
15. he will hold it fast, but it will not endure.
16. He is green before the sun,
16. and his branch shoots forth in his garden.
17. His roots are wrapped around the rock heap,
17. and he sees the place of stones.
18. If he is uprooted from his place,
18. then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’
19. See, this is the joy of his way,
19. and out of the ground others will grow.
20. “Surely, God will not cast away a perfect man,
20. nor will He strengthen the evildoers,
21. until He fills your mouth with laughing,
21. and your lips with rejoicing.
22. Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,
22. and the dwelling place of the wicked will come to nothing.”