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." |