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[1] Then Baldad the Sauchite answered, and said,
[2] How long wilt thou speak these things, how long shall the breath of thy mouth be abundant in words?
[3] Will the Lord be unjust when he judges; or will he that has made all things pervert justice?
[4] If thy sons have sinned before him, he has cast them away because of their transgression.
[5] But be thou early in prayer to the Lord Almighty.
[6] If thou art pure and true, he will hearken to thy supplication, and will restore to thee the habitation of righteousness.
[7] Though then thy beginning should be small, yet thy end should be unspeakably great.
[8] For ask of the former generation, and search diligently among the race of our fathers:
[9] (for we are of yesterday, and know nothing; for our life upon the earth is a shadow:)
[10] shall not these teach thee, and report to thee, and bring out words from their heart?
[11] Does the rush flourish without water, or shall the flag grow up without moisture?
[12] When it is yet on the root, and though it has not been cut down, does not any herb wither before it has received moisture?
[13] Thus then shall be the end of all that forget the Lord: for the hope of the ungodly shall perish.
[14] For his house shall be without inhabitants, and his tent shall prove a spider's web.
[15] If he should prop up his house, it shall not stand: and when he has taken hold of it, it shall not remain.
[16] For it is moist under the sun, and his branch shall come forth out of his dung-heap.
[17] He lies down upon a gathering of stones, and shall live in the mist of flints.
[18] If God should destroy him, his place shall deny him. Hast thou not seen such things,
[19] that such is the overthrow of the ungodly? and out of the earth another shall grow.
[20] For the Lord will by no means reject the harmless man; but he will not receive any gift of the ungodly.
[21] But he will fill with laughter the mouth of the sincere, and their lips with thanksgiving.
[22] But their adversaries shall clothe themselves with shame; and the habitation of the ungodly shall perish.
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