[1] Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
[2] “How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
[3] Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
[4] If your children have sinned against him, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.
[5] If you want to seek God diligently, make your supplication to the Almighty.
[6] If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
[7] Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.
[8] “Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.
[9] (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.)
[10] Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?
[11] “Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?
[12] While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.
[13] So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish,
[14] Whose confidence shall break apart, Whose trust is a spider’s web.
[15] He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.
[16] He is green before the sun. His shoots go out along his garden.
[17] His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones.
[18] If he is destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’
[19] Behold, this is the joy of his way: out of the earth, others shall spring.
[20] “Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.
[21] He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.
[22] Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more.”