1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite , and said , 2How long wilt thou speak these things ? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind ? 3Doth God pervert judgment ? or doth the Almighty pervert justice ? 4If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression ; 5If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes , and make thy supplication to the Almighty ; 6If thou wert pure and upright ; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous . 7Though thy beginning was small , yet thy latter end should greatly increase .
The Wisdom of the Ancients
8For 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 :) 10Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart ? 11Can the rush grow up without mire ? can the flag grow without water ? 12Whilst it is yet in his greenness , and not cut down , it withereth before any other herb . 13So are the paths of all that forget God ; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish : 14Whose hope shall be cut off , and whose trust shall be a spider’s web . 15He shall lean upon his house , but it shall not stand : he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure . 16He is green before the sun , and his branch shooteth forth in his garden . 17His roots are wrapped about the heap , and seeth the place of stones . 18If he destroy him from his place , then it shall deny him, saying , I have not seen thee. 19Behold, this is the joy of his way , and out of the earth shall others grow .
A Call to Repentance
20Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man , neither will he help the evil doers : 21Till he fill thy mouth with laughing , and thy lips with rejoicing . 22They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame ; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought .