1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2How long will you speak such things, and the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
3Does God pervert justice, or does Shaddai pervert what is right?
4If your children sinned against him, then he sent them off into the hand of their transgression.
5If you yourself will seek God diligently and plead for mercy to Shaddai,
6if you are pure and upright, then surely now he will rouse himself for you and restore your righteous dwelling.
7Though your beginning was small, your latter end will grow exceedingly great.
8For ask now of the former generation, and give heed to the search of their fathers,
9for we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow.
10Will they not teach you and tell you, and bring forth words from their heart?
11Can the papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can the reed flourish without water?
12While still in its bud, not yet plucked, it withers before any other grass.
13So are the paths of all who forget God, and the hope of the godless perishes.
14whose confidence is cut off, and whose trust is a spider’s house.
15He leans on his house, but it does not stand; he lays hold of it, but it does not endure.
16He is well-watered before the sun, and his shoots spread out over his garden.
17His roots twine over a heap of stones; he looks upon a house of stones.
18If he is swallowed up from his place, then it denies him: ‘I have never seen you.’
19Behold, this is the joy of his way, and from the dust others will sprout.
20Behold, God will not reject the blameless, nor will he take the hand of evildoers.
21He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.
22Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.
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