^{1 Ref} Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

^{2 Ref} How long wilt thou speak these things? And `how long' shall the words of thy mouth be `like' a mighty wind?

^{3 Ref} Doth God pervert justice? Or doth the Almighty pervert righteousness?

^{4 Ref} If thy children have sinned against him, And he hath delivered them into the hand of their transgression;

^{5 Ref} If thou wouldest seek diligently unto God, And make thy supplication to the Almighty;

^{6 Ref} If thou wert pure and upright: Surely now he would awake for thee, And make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

^{7 Ref} And though thy beginning was small, Yet thy latter end would greatly increase.

^{8 Ref} For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, And apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out:

^{9 Ref} (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days upon earth are a shadow);

^{10 Ref} Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, And utter words out of their heart?

^{11 Ref} Can the rush grow up without mire? Can the flag grow without water?

^{12 Ref} Whilst it is yet in its greenness, `and' not cut down, It withereth before any `other' herb.

^{13 Ref} So are the paths of all that forget God; And the hope of the godless man shall perish:

^{14 Ref} Whose confidence shall break in sunder, And whose trust is a spider's web.

^{15 Ref} He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: He shall hold fast thereby, but it shall not endure.

^{16 Ref} He is green before the sun, And his shoots go forth over his garden.

^{17 Ref} His roots are wrapped about the `stone' -heap, He beholdeth the place of stones.

^{18 Ref} If he be destroyed from his place, Then it shall deny him, `saying', I have not seen thee.

^{19 Ref} Behold, this is the joy of his way; And out of the earth shall others spring.

^{20 Ref} Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers.

^{21 Ref} He will yet fill thy mouth with laughter, And thy lips with shouting.

^{22 Ref} They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; And the tent of the wicked shall be no more.

^{1 Ref} Then Bildad the Shuhite made answer and said,

^{2 Ref} How long will you say these things, and how long will the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?

^{3 Ref} Does God give wrong decisions? or is the Ruler of all not upright in his judging?

^{4 Ref} If your children have done evil against him, then their punishment is from his hand.

^{5 Ref} If you will make search for God with care, and put your request before the Ruler of all;

^{6 Ref} If you are clean and upright; then he will certainly be moved to take up your cause, and will make clear your righteousness by building up your house again.

^{7 Ref} And though your start was small, your end will be very great.

^{8 Ref} Put the question now to the past generations, and give attention to what has been searched out by their fathers:

^{9 Ref} (For we are but of yesterday, and have no knowledge, because our days on earth are gone like a shade:)

^{10 Ref} Will they not give you teaching, and say words of wisdom to you?

^{11 Ref} Will the river-plant come up in its pride without wet earth? will the grass get tall without water?

^{12 Ref} When it is still green, without being cut down, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant.

^{13 Ref} So is the end of all who do not keep God in mind; and the hope of the evil-doer comes to nothing:

^{14 Ref} Whose support is cut off, and whose hope is no stronger than a spider's thread.

^{15 Ref} He is looking to his family for support, but it is not there; he puts his hope in it, but it comes to nothing.

^{16 Ref} He is full of strength before the sun, and his branches go out over his garden.

^{17 Ref} His roots are twisted round the stones, forcing their way in between them.

^{18 Ref} If he is taken away from his place, then it will say, I have not seen you.

^{19 Ref} Such is the joy of his way, and out of the dust another comes up to take his place.

^{20 Ref} Truly, God will not give up him who is without sin, and will not take evil-doers by the hand.

^{21 Ref} The time will come when your mouth will be full of laughing, and cries of joy will come from your lips.

^{22 Ref} Your haters will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the sinner will not be seen again.