¹⁾Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

²⁾How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

³⁾Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

⁴⁾If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;

⁵⁾If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, 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⁾Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

⁸⁾For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:

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 grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?

¹²⁾Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

¹³⁾So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

¹⁴⁾Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.

¹⁵⁾He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.

¹⁶⁾He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.

¹⁷⁾His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.

¹⁸⁾If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.

¹⁹⁾Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

²⁰⁾Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:

²¹⁾Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.

²²⁾They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.