1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,
2 How long will you speak these things? And [how long] will the words of your mouth be [like] a mighty wind?
3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
4 If your sons have sinned against him, And he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression;
5 If you would seek diligently to God, And make your supplication to the Almighty;
6 If you were pure and upright: Surely now he would awake for you, And make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
7 And though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would greatly increase.
8 For inquire, I pray you, of the former age, And apply yourself to that which their fathers have searched out:
9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days on earth are a shadow);
10 Will not they teach you, and tell you, And utter words out of their heart?
11 Can the rush grow up without mire? Can the flag grow without water?
12 While it is yet in its greenness, [and] not cut down, It withers before any [other] herb.
13 So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the godless man will perish:
14 Whose confidence will break in sunder, And whose trust is a spider's web.
15 He will lean on his house, but it will not stand: He will hold it fast, but it will 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 looks at the place of stones.
18 If he is destroyed from his place, Then it will deny him, [saying], I haven't seen you.
19 Look, this is the joy of his way; And out of the earth will others spring.
20 Look, God will not cast away a perfect man, Neither will he uphold the evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, And your lips with shouting.
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame; And the tent of the wicked will be no more.