^1. THEN Bildad the Shuhite [1] answered,

^2. «How long will you say these things, And the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

^3. «Does God pervert justice? Or does [2] the Almighty pervert what is right?

^4. « If your sons sinned against Him, Then He delivered them into the [3] power of their transgression.

^5. «If you would seek God And implore the compassion of [4] the Almighty,

^6. If you are pure and upright, Surely now He would rouse Himself for you And restore your righteous [5] estate.

^7. «Though your beginning was insignificant, Yet your end will increase greatly.

^8. «Please inquire of past generations, And consider the things searched out by their fathers.

^9. «For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, Because our days on earth are as a shadow.

^10. «Will they not teach you and tell you, And bring forth words from their minds?

^11. «Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the rushes grow without water?

^12. «While it is still green and not cut down, Yet it withers before any other [6] plant.

^13. «So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the godless will perish,

^14. Whose confidence is fragile, And whose trust a spider's [7] web.

^15. «He [8] trusts in his house, but it does not stand; He holds fast to it, but it does not endure.

^16. «He [9] thrives before the sun, And his shoots spread out over his garden.

^17. «His roots wrap around a rock pile, He [10] grasps a house of stones.

^18. «If he is [11] removed from his place, Then it will deny him, saying, " I never saw you.'

^19. «Behold, this is the joy of His way; And out of the dust others will spring.

^20. «Lo, God will not reject a man of integrity, Nor will He [12] support the evildoers.

^21. «He will yet fill your mouth with laughter And your lips with shouting.

^22. «Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the tent of the wicked will be no longer.»