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 hath cast them away for their transgression; for…: Heb. in the hand of their transgression

5 If thou wouldest seek to God early, 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:) nothing: Heb. not

10 Shall they not teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

11 Can the rush grow without mire? can the flag grow without water?

12 While it is still green, 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 confidence shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web. web: Heb. house

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 shall be destroyed 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 evildoers: help…: Heb. take the ungodly by the hand

21 Till he shall fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing. rejoicing: Heb. shouting for joy

22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought. shall come…: Heb. shall not be