| 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 forth over 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 shall others spring. |
| 20 | 'Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers. |
| 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.' |