1. Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2. How long wilt thou speak these [things]? and [how long shall] the words of thy mouth [be like] a strong wind?
3. Doth God pervert judgment; or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
4. If thy children have sinned against him, and he hath cast them away for their transgression;
5. If thou wouldst seek to God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6. If thou [wert] pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7. Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end would greatly increase.
8. For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
9. (For we [are but of] yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth [are] a shadow:)
10. Will they not teach thee, [and] tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
11. Can the rush grow without mire? can the flag grow without water?
12. Whilst it [is] yet in its greenness, [and] not cut down, it withereth before any [other] herb.
13. So [are] the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:
14. Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust [shall be] a spider's web.
15. He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
16. He [is] green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
17. His roots are wrapped about the heap, [and] seeth the place of stones.
18. If he shall destroy him from his place, then [it] shall deny him, [saying], I have not seen thee.
19. Behold, this [is] the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
20. Behold, God will not cast away a perfect [man], neither will he help the evil doers:
21. Till he shall fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
22. They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to naught.