| | 1 | Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: | |
| | 2 | "How long will you speak these things, And the words of your mouth be like a strong wind? | |
| | 3 | Does God subvert judgment? Or does the Almighty pervert justice? | |
| | 4 | If your sons have sinned against Him, He has cast them away for their transgression. | |
| | 5 | If you would earnestly seek God And make your supplication to the Almighty, | |
| | 6 | If you were pure and upright, Surely now He would awake for you, And prosper your rightful dwelling place. | |
| | 7 | Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would increase abundantly. | |
| | 8 | "For inquire, please, of the former age, And consider the things discovered by their fathers; | |
| | 9 | For we were born yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days on earth are a shadow. | |
| | 10 | Will they not teach you and tell you, And utter words from their heart? | |
| | 11 | "Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the reeds flourish without water? | |
| | 12 | While it is yet green and not cut down, It withers before any other plant. | |
| | 13 | So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish, | |
| | 14 | Whose confidence shall be cut off, And whose trust is a spider's web. | |
| | 15 | He leans on his house, but it does not stand. He holds it fast, but it does not endure. | |
| | 16 | He grows green in the sun, And his branches spread out in his garden. | |
| | 17 | His roots wrap around the rock heap, And look for a place in the stones. | |
| | 18 | If he is destroyed from his place, Then it will deny him, saying, 'I have not seen you.' | |
| | 19 | "Behold, this is the joy of His way, And out of the earth others will grow. | |
| | 20 | Behold, God will not cast away the blameless, Nor will He uphold the evildoers. | |
| | 21 | He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, And your lips with rejoicing. | |
| | 22 | Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the dwelling place of the wicked will come to nothing." | |
