1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, 2How long will you speak these things? and how long shall the words of your mouth be like a strong wind? 3Does God pervert judgment? or does the Almighty pervert justice? 4If your children have sinned against him, and he has cast them away for their transgression; 5If you would seek unto God early, and make your supplication to the Almighty; 6If you were pure and upright; surely now he would awake for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous. 7Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end should greatly increase. 8For inquire, I pray you, of the former age, and prepare yourself to the findings of their fathers: 9(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:) 10Shall not they teach you, and tell you, and utter words out of their heart? 11Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? can the reeds grow without water? 12While it is yet green, and not cut down, it withers before any other plant. 13So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish: 14Whose confidence shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web. 15He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure. 16He grows green in the sun, and his branch shoots forth in his garden. 17His roots are wrapped about the stone heap, and looks for a place in the stones. 18If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, I have not seen you. 19Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow. 20Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he help the evil doers: 21Till he fills your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing. 22They that hate you shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked will come to nothing.