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[1] THEN answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
[2] How long will you speak these things? And how long will your mouth utter proud words?
[3] Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert right?
[4] If your children have sinned against him, he has sent them away in their transgressions.
[5] If you would seek God and make supplication to the Almighty,
[6] If you were innocent and upright, surely then he would be attentive to you, and would make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous,
[7] So that though your beginning was small he would make your end very great
[8] For inquire, I pray you, of the former generations, and learn through the search of their fathers;
[9] For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are like a shadow;
[10] And, behold, they shall teach you, and tell you, and utter words out of their heart.
[11] Can papyrus grow in a thirsty land? Can reeds grow where there is no water?
[12] While they are yet in their greenness, and not cut down, they wither before any other herb.
[13] So are the paths of all who forget God; and the hope of the heathen shall perish;
[14] Whose confidence shall be cut off, and whose house is a spider's web.
[15] The wicked shall put his trust in his house, but it shall not stand; he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
[16] He is like green vegetation before the sun, and his roots shall rest in a ground liable to be washed away.
[17] He shall see his house a heap of stones.
[18] If he is uprooted from his place, then he will deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.
[19] Behold, it is he who examines all his ways, and out of the earth others shall sprout
[20] Behold, God will not reject the upright men, nor will he help the evildoers;
[21] Until he fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a song.
[22] Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame; and the tent of the wicked shall be destroyed
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