Then Bildad the Shuhite
1answered
,
"How long
will you say
these
things
, And the awords
of your mouth
be a mighty
wind
?
"Does aGod pervert
justice
? Or
does 1the Almighty
pervert
what
is right
?
" aIf your sons
sinned
against Him, Then He delivered
them into the 1power
of their transgression
.
"If you would aseek
God
And implore
the compassion
of 1the Almighty
,
If you are pure
and upright
, Surely
now
aHe would rouse
Himself for you And restore
your righteous
1 bestate
.
"Though your beginning was insignificant
, Yet your aend
will increase
greatly
.
"Please ainquire
of past
generations
, And consider
the things
searched
out by their fathers
.
"For we are only of yesterday and know
nothing
, Because
aour days
on earth
are as a shadow
.
"Will they not teach you and tell
you, And bring
forth
words
from their minds
?
"Can the papyrus grow
up without
a marsh
? Can the rushes
grow
without
water
?
"While it is still green
and not cut
down
, Yet it withers
before
any
other 1plant
.
"So are the paths
of aall
who
forget
God
; And the bhope
of the godless
will perish
,
Whose confidence
is fragile
, And whose trust
a aspider's
1web
.
"He 1trusts in his ahouse
, but it does not stand
; He holds
fast
to it, but it does not endure
.
"He 1 athrives before
the sun
, And his bshoots
spread
out over
his garden
.
"His roots wrap
around
a rock
pile
, He 1grasps
a house
of stones
.
"If he is 1removed
from ahis place
, Then it will deny
him, saying, ` bI never
saw
you.'
"Behold, athis
is the joy
of His way
; And out of the dust
others
will spring
.
"Lo, aGod
will not reject
a man of integrity
, Nor
bwill He 1support
the evildoers
.
"He will yet fill
ayour mouth
with laughter
And your lips
with shouting
.
"Those who hate you will be aclothed
with shame
, And the btent
of the wicked
will be no
longer."