| | 1 | Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
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| | 2 | "How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
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| | 3 | Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
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| | 4 | If your children have sinned against him, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience;
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| | 5 | If you want to seek God diligently, Make your supplication to the Almighty.
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| | 6 | If you were pure and upright, Surely now he would awaken for you, And make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
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| | 7 | Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would greatly increase.
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| | 8 | "Please inquire of past generations, Find out about the learning of their fathers.
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| | 9 | (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days on earth are a shadow.)
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| | 10 | Shall they not teach you, tell you, And utter words out of their heart?
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| | 11 | "Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?
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| | 12 | While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, It withers before any other reed.
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| | 13 | So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish,
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| | 14 | Whose confidence shall break apart, Whose trust is a spider's web.
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| | 15 | He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.
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| | 16 | He is green before the sun, His shoots go forth over his garden.
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| | 17 | His roots are wrapped around the rock pile, He sees the place of stones.
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| | 18 | If he is destroyed from his place, Then it shall deny him, saying, 'I have not seen you.'
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| | 19 | Behold, this is the joy of his way: Out of the earth shall others spring.
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| | 20 | "Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers.
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| | 21 | He will still fill your mouth with laughter, Your lips with shouting.
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| | 22 | Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more."
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