1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2How long wilt thou talk of these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be as a mighty wind?
3Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty subvert justice?
4If thy sons have sinned against him, and he hath sent them into the place of their iniquity,
5Yet if thou wilt early seek unto God, and pray to the Almighty,
6If thou be pure and upright, then surely he will awake up unto thee, and he will make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7And though thy beginning be small, yet thy latter end shall greatly increase.
8Inquire therefore, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to search of their fathers.
9(For we are but of yesterday, and are ignorant: for our days upon earth are but a shadow)
10Shall not they teach thee and tell thee, and utter the words of their heart?
11Can a rush grow without mire? or can the grass grow without water?
12Though it were in green and not cut down, yet shall it wither before any other herb.
13So are the paths of all that forget God, and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish.
14His confidence also shall be cut off, and his trust shall be as the house of a spider.
15He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold him fast by it, yet shall it not endure.
16The tree is green before the Sun, and the branches spread over the garden thereof.
17The roots thereof are wrapped about the fountain, and are folded about the house of stones.
18If any pluck it from his place, and it deny, saying, I have not seen thee,
19Behold, it will rejoice by this means, that it may grow in another mold.
20Behold, God will not cast away an upright man, neither will he take the wicked by the hand,
21Till he have filled thy mouth with laughter, and thy lips with joy.
22They that hate thee, shall be clothed with shame, and the dwelling of the wicked shall not remain.