1 - Then Bildad the Shuhite made answer and said,
2 - How long will you say these things, and how long will the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?
3 - Does God give wrong decisions? or is the Ruler of all not upright in his judging?
4 - If your children have done evil against him, then their punishment is from his hand.
5 - If you will make search for God with care, and put your request before the Ruler of all;
6 - 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 - And though your start was small, your end will be very great.
8 - Put the question now to the past generations, and give attention to what has been searched out by their fathers:
9 - (For we are but of yesterday, and have no knowledge, because our days on earth are gone like a shade:)
10 - Will they not give you teaching, and say words of wisdom to you?
11 - Will the river-plant come up in its pride without wet earth? will the grass get tall without water?
12 - When it is still green, without being cut down, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant.
13 - So is the end of all who do not keep God in mind; and the hope of the evil-doer comes to nothing:
14 - Whose support is cut off, and whose hope is no stronger than a spider's thread.
15 - 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 - He is full of strength before the sun, and his branches go out over his garden.
17 - His roots are twisted round the stones, forcing their way in between them.
18 - If he is taken away from his place, then it will say, I have not seen you.
19 - Such is the joy of his way, and out of the dust another comes up to take his place.
20 - Truly, God will not give up him who is without sin, and will not take evil-doers by the hand.
21 - The time will come when your mouth will be full of laughing, and cries of joy will come from your lips.
22 - Your haters will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the sinner will not be seen again.
