Then answered Bildad
the Shuhite
, and said
,
How long
wilt thou speak
these things ? and how long shall the words
of thy mouth
be like a strong
wind
?
Doth God pervert
judgment
? or doth the Almighty
pervert
justice
?
If thy children have sinned
against him, and he have cast them away
for
their transgression
;
If thou wouldest seek unto God
betimes
, and make thy supplication
to the Almighty
;
If thou wert pure and upright
; surely now he would awake
for thee, and make the habitation
of thy righteousness
prosperous
.
Though thy beginning was small
, yet thy latter end
should greatly
increase
.
For enquire, I pray thee, of the former
age
, and prepare
thyself to the search
of their fathers
:
(For we are but of yesterday, and know
nothing, because our days
upon earth
are a shadow
:)
Shall not they teach thee, and tell
thee, and utter
words
out of their heart
?
Can the rush grow up
without mire
? can
the flag
grow
without
water
?
Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down
, it withereth
before
any other herb
.
So are the paths of all that forget
God
; and the hypocrite's
hope
shall perish
:
Whose hope shall be cut off
, and whose trust
shall be a spider's
web
.
He shall lean upon his house
, but it shall not stand
: he shall hold
it fast, but it shall not endure
.
He is green before
the sun
, and his branch
shooteth forth
in his garden
.
His roots are wrapped about
the heap
, and seeth
the place
of stones
.
If he destroy him from his place
, then it shall deny
him, saying , I have not seen
thee.
Behold, this is the joy of his way
, and out of the earth
shall others
grow
.
Behold, God will not cast away
a perfect
man , neither will he help
the evil doers
:
Till he fill thy mouth
with laughing
, and thy lips
with rejoicing
.
They that hate thee shall be clothed
with shame
; and the dwelling
place of the wicked
shall come to nought
.