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[1] Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said:
[2] How long wilt thou speak these things, seeing that the words of thy mouth are as a mighty wind?
[3] Doth God pervert judgment? Or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
[4] If thy children sinned against Him, He delivered them into the hand of their transgression.
[5] If thou wouldest seek earnestly unto God, 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] And though thy beginning was small, yet thy end should greatly increase.
[8] For inquire, I pray thee, of the former generation, and apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out—
[9] For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow—
[10] Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
[11] Can the rush shoot up without mire? Can the reed-grass 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 hope of the godless man shall perish;
[14] Whose confidence i gossamer, and whose trust is a spider's web.
[15] He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand; he shall hold fast thereby, but it shall not endure.
[16] He is green before the sun, and his shoots go forth over his garden.
[17] His roots are wrapped about the heap, he beholdeth the place of stones.
[18] If he be destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him: 'I have not seen thee.'
[19] Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others spring.
[20] Behold, God will not cast away an innocent man, neither will He uphold the evil-doers;
[21] Till He fill thy mouth with laughter, and thy lips with shouting.
[22] They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the tent of the wicked shall be no more.
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