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